We are officially half-way through with our ministry at Casa Maria. Whew.
This ministry is probably the most emotionally challenging ministry that I’ve been a part of on the race so far. Everyday it seems like something crazy happens: Isabella falls out of her wheelchair face-forward on the concrete ground, George (the most happy and kind-hearted man there) gets into a physical fight with someone over something stupid, Maxine throws up all over herself, or Carlos (a man paralyzed on one side) starts shaking his paralyzed body uncontrollably because he is so disappointed that he can’t move both arms to do aerobics.
It also is a challenge to find things to do with the people at Casa Maria. Most of them are not capable of playing Bingo, so we are the ones sitting with them putting the markers on the spaces. Yesterday, Christen brought her guitar and we sang worship songs, but about half-way through the first song about 90% of the people were asleep. I have to remind myself that it doesn’t matter how we are received, or whether we have to wake George up because he finally won at Bingo, we are commanded by God to love the people at Casa Maria.
I know that even though we do not see a lot of fruit in our ministry this month, we are still making a difference. Amaris Torres, the Spanish-speaker on our team can understand what they are saying to us and she is constantly reminding us that they appreciate the care and affection that we’re giving to them.
One way that I’ve been able to see that what we’re doing is making a difference is in Flora. She is a woman who has experienced sexual abuse in her lifetime and it is something that still affects her. From the first day we were there, she was yelling at us, throwing things, and just generally secluding herself from everyone. The first day, she wouldn’t sit in a chair next to us, she would be sure to keep at least one chair in between us at all times. However, on Monday she was angry with someone else and she kept scooting her chair closer to mine until finally she was sitting un-comfortably close to me and keeping the distance from the person that was sitting on the other side of her.
Yesterday, when we got to Casa Maria in the morning and I was walking around saying “Buenos Dias” to everyone, she actually let me shake her hand. Then, when I was putting lotion of everyone, she let me put lotion on her hands and arms. Her demeanor towards us has completely changed. She is responding to the love that we have all given her, well God’s love working through us. It is beautiful and it makes the whole month worth it.
I am continuing to pray for the people at Casa Maria. I am praying that they know God’s love (which I believe they all do) and that they may be healed and reconciled with God soon.
