Lionsa is a widow. She has a few kids. She loves God and prays all the time. She also has problems with her back and feet because she sleeps on the floor. We are the first Western folks to come and visit her in the Mayan village of Ayapan. She needs a bed.
Victoria is sensitvie in spirit and Lionsa struck a special chord in her heart. “Let’s get her a bed! Let’s get all the widows beds or whatever they need!”
So, that night, we were leading joint worship with Gap Year and at the end, she announced an offering for the widows. Some gave what they had. Some gave all they had. Some would pray about it and get back to us.
By mid week, we had enough to get this bed, but we were running out of days. Also, that Monday morning, Ayapan was closed off to all people except residents–one citizen felled a tree over the road, making it impassable. So, what should we do?
German went and got the bed. To our surprise, the next day, while we were packing away our things, there is a knock on the window. “Let’s go and give the widow the bed.” Now?
So, we get the bed on top of the van, grab sheets and some corn for good measure, and head over. The tree that was blocking the road was nothing but sawdust at this point.
Her daughter sees us first and smiles so big! We give them the food and sheets. It has been rainy a lot, so we slip and slide our way to the van. Lionsa is estatic. She said that she thought we forgot about her. She said that now she knows God listens and answers prayers. We get the bed in the house and take pictures. The joy cannot be contained!
What a way to end our month!
One of the most touching things about our host German is that he literally goes to widows, the oppressed, the poor and the children to offer them hope. Working alongside him has been amazing.
