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Extreme poverty and horrific circumstances, a little south landan lass and a beautiful saviour....
Kennedy, Ecuador
My goodness how do I even explain the intensity, the lessons and the blessings of the this past month and a half. My eyes have been opened more than ever and my heart for these people and love for Gods justice and hope has grown more than I could ever imagine possible. I don't even know where to start! I guess firstly by saying that those who have supported me spiritually, financially and emotionally, I can't thank you enough! Your support has not only helped me but through that helped those who really seriously need as much as help as they can get!
More than any other blog, please read this one if you can! These people need help and prayers!
So the last month or so we have been going to the houses of the people we help at pan de vida. I guess I always knew that these people were poor but I couldn't imagine the conditions they live in. Most live in a tiny room with the whole of their family, that being on average about 10 children and the mother. Normally there are different fathers who go off to work and then come back and have sex with the mother in the same bed that all the children sleep in while they are there. Most live in either a freezing cold concrete room or sometimes where the floor is just dirt. A roof made of either tin or wood, they leak and mean that they are freezing cold at night. The whole families sleeping in one or two mattresses on the floor, their only privacy and space to be an individual is their corner of the bed. There are animals often living in the houses too. They have little or no kitchen. The smell is absolutely horrific, flies everywhere and open sewers. Often toilets outside shared with 4 other families, damp and smelly. The children often don't go to school as they can't afford it, and end up instead selling sweets on the streets and buses alone. They have place to play, no opportunity to be a child.
I've always heard and been shocked by poverty, but getting to know these people and then seeing where they live absolutely breaks your heart. In response, a couple of us at pan de vida have decided to start a project whereby we are going to try to help the 10 poorest families we help primarily. We are getting groups of volunteers together to give us the opportunity to aid these families in their individual needs. Some need houses built, beds, food, emotional care, school supplies, health care, we want to help them where we can! I am going to make a video of the houses of these people, which when I've finished I will send to you. Please if you wish to help more in terms of prayer or donations, let me know!
The girls group is going so well! We've had 22 girls in total over the last few months and they are opening up so much. I have really got to know so many of them and they are truly in wonderful girls in such sad situations! But we have been doing lots! We've made the bean bags and we also decorated mirrors with verses on our identity in Christ, which was awesome! The photo is of the the girls and me with the mirrors. Can I just say it's Ecuadorian culture not to smile in pictures (don't ask!), they spent the rest of the time laughing and chatting! Today we decorated our bibles which was really good fun too! I've nearly finished the painting and we now have a tv and a space for the children so we can movie nights etc! I will send some photos once it's completely done.
But God has really been doing stuff in their lives. 2 girls said they wanted to get baptised today and loads of them are really asking questions and so on. I met with one girl today and she is having to look after her 6 siblings alone. She is 20, has to work day and night and broke down in tears at the loneliness she felt. Please pray for her!
I'm trying to get a mentoring system in place for these girls, so they have people supporting them and even just listen to them. Encourage them to be the women they want to be and not just thinking the only thing can do is to have a baby at 15 and live in poverty!
I went to the prison today too. Amazing what God is doing there! 7 women gave their lives to Jesus today! And there are a group of women who we are going to baptise in a few weeks! Women have been healed from all sorts of things and it's such a blessing to see what God is doing in such a dark place. Barbara has sadly been given an 8 year sentence, but she is doing so well. She sees it as an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus and has started prayer groups and stuff with the friends she has brought to Christ. Please pray that she continues to have strength to do that and keep seeking refuge in Him. Sadly another woman from America has been put in prison last week for the same thing, someone put drugs in her bag but she didnt know. She is mute and deaf and thus is so very isolated from everything, very sweet but fragile. Her name is Katherine.
The conditions at the prison are so terrible, firstly the children have to live with the women in the prison until they are about 5, then they get kicked out onto the streets with no where to go and no education. Please pray that something will be done for these poor children. The prison is also totally overcrowded. It fits 300 women and there are over 500, 4/5 women are living in 2 bedroom rooms (which are ridiculously small anyway!) so the conditions are getting worse!
Apart from all that, I've been helping with the children of the microempresa. The miny business that teaches women how to sew and then can sell their produce. I take care of the kids so they can work easier! It's been so lovely to be able to play with these beautiful kids! They are so sweet and it's just the loveliest thing when you get to know all these people and their lives. I feel so privileged.
In addition, about a month ago I organised an evangelical event with the church! It was great! There were SO many obstacles, I genuinely never thought I'd be able to do it, but luckily God is bigger than that! So to cut a long story short, 100 came to be apart of the flash mob dance, drama or choir we had. God fed 100 people with food for 20 people with leftovers! (bread and fish thing goin down here...) we did it twice in the biggest park in Quito with no problems. Gave out 30 johns gospels and had some amazing conversations! Also everyone involved loved it and said that they were really blessed by it too which was great! :) and 15 girls from my girls group came which was amazing!
However time is coming to an end! I have 3 weeks of working more and then travelling for a bit. I will be back on the 29th of June! So just trying to get everything done and see as many people as possible. I will be so sad to leave here, it's been hard at times but God has taught me so much and it's so true that His grace is sufficient.
Sorry for my long blog! Thankyou so much again for all your support, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! Please let me know if you want to support these people in any way possible or want more info.
Izzy xx
- comments
Daniel Keep up the good work
terry steinegger Praise God Izzy. So wonderful to hear of the way Jesus is breaking in to people's lives. Will pray for the project and for all involved.
Uncle John Wow, Izzy what a tale that is. The work you are doing is fantastic. Enjoy your vacation. Love to you. xx