Up the mountain, next to the ML coffee plantation, about 3 miles and an hour down the road, we’ve got some neighbors…a family with nothing but themselves. They were a family of 12, as of last week they’re down to 11. At 20 years of age their oldest son suffered an epileptic seizure and died on the floor in front of his younger brothers and sisters.
Hearing of their conditions, a landscaping contractor, Ed Jackson along with his foreman, Miguel Enriquez, who were visiting from Georgia decided to visit our neighbors. We carried some food, candy (a must) and a few toys up to their home.
After seeing how their house and grieving conditions, Ed and Miguel left money with me asking that we take more food and provisions to the family. Late Friday evening, Fernando (preacher/warehouse mgr), Brianna Capps (intern) and I took the 36lbs of rice and beans, along with a lot of other food and supplies (including a soccer ball) to the family’s home and held a Bible study with them…they seemed to enjoy it (considering the circumstances), but what they appreciated the most was the company and the visit. Both adults kept telling us how much they appreciated having visitors. Their own family had yet to visit and it wasn’t hard to see they were a hurting from their lack of family support. It was pretty obvious there was a lot of pain in the household…the father couldn’t say the son that died—he could only say “el hijo que se fue”…”the son that went away”
Having never lost a child, its difficult for many of us to relate to this family’s suffering. After 2 nearly full 100lbs sacks of supplies, prayers and visiting, we are still doing what we can, but I know and realize we are just scratching the surface…only time and God will truly heal this family’s pain.
Hearing of their conditions, a landscaping contractor, Ed Jackson along with his foreman, Miguel Enriquez, who were visiting from Georgia decided to visit our neighbors. We carried some food, candy (a must) and a few toys up to their home.
After seeing how their house and grieving conditions, Ed and Miguel left money with me asking that we take more food and provisions to the family. Late Friday evening, Fernando (preacher/warehouse mgr), Brianna Capps (intern) and I took the 36lbs of rice and beans, along with a lot of other food and supplies (including a soccer ball) to the family’s home and held a Bible study with them…they seemed to enjoy it (considering the circumstances), but what they appreciated the most was the company and the visit. Both adults kept telling us how much they appreciated having visitors. Their own family had yet to visit and it wasn’t hard to see they were a hurting from their lack of family support. It was pretty obvious there was a lot of pain in the household…the father couldn’t say the son that died—he could only say “el hijo que se fue”…”the son that went away”
Having never lost a child, its difficult for many of us to relate to this family’s suffering. After 2 nearly full 100lbs sacks of supplies, prayers and visiting, we are still doing what we can, but I know and realize we are just scratching the surface…only time and God will truly heal this family’s pain.
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