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the real me....
People often say I don't fit in anyone's box...Is that true? I do not know...
However just a little experience I want to share with you. Last night like just about every night went to one of the churches. On the way home a family that lives nearby my house had gone to help out in another village church and they called me to see if we were close and if so could they catch a ride. (it is very dangerous at night in most of these villages) We told them yes just to wait at the church and we would swing by and pick them up.
Several families waited for us to arrive to pick up the couple. Their son in law and daughter is the pastor. He said, Missionary why don't you come by our house and you can see where we are living. (they had just moved into that village to be closer to their little struggling new work)
It was really a nice little place they are renting. They were overwhelmed with joy we would come by and bless their little new rented home with our prayers.
I saw the pastor whisper something to his wife and she shook her head no. He looked at me and said Missionary we would offer coffee (custom here) but we have none but we can give you a drink of water. I told them I was fine and my daughter in law was waiting on us with supper.
The living room was empty...since they no living room furniture...their kitchen a little plastic table with 4 plastic chairs I gave them...a stove that was given to them and a little cabinet for their dishes...
a mattress on the floor in their room and a little bed for their 2 boys that that was a gift from her parents...Oh, Missionary their little boy Auther said, you can sleep with me! He thought Brother Alvear had brought me by to leave me to spend the night!
I went and sat on his bed and he and his brother sang me a little song ...they were so happy.
The pastor showed me a tiny room really I thought too small for a closet! And he proudly announced that was his study! So happy....
Many times the rich take advantage of the poor in these countries...the pastor keep telling me he was sorry he could not offer us coffee and explained he had worked on a job and is working for 3 months and they keep promising to pay him but have not and probably never will...he is looking for another job...(hard to find)
We prayed and the children clung to us...wanted to go with us...After I got home I cried...
Things like this become a way of life...Everyday we rub shoulders with the suffering...However even after a life time I still weep over their poverty...that is why I often ask for them and their projects...
It seems the life I live would hardened a person after a time but with each passing day I weep...
Please do not be bored with my burden...I know we can never feed the whole world but it cuts me to the bone to know that God has so many little lambs that have so little...
I am sorry I am a beggar...it hurts me when people toss my letters without even reading them in the trash and use remarks...such as, Oh that is just from Sister Janice begging for the Brazilians...
Maybe it is true for some I stand in the gap and in some little way have helped through others that give for their projects here.
However these are a real people...and the ones I write about are all our brothers and sisters.
I am blessed...I feel often uncomfortable because a pastor from American built us a nice home but whatever God has blessed me with was only loaned for someday we all will leave all earthly things behind and whatever we have done for the kingdom will be the only thing that does not burn on that day...all other things are ashes only...
Do not hoard...open up your heart wide and bless and bless and bless again!
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Facebook Janice LaVaun Taylor Alvear
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