She stands with her back to the kitchen sink, eating a snack
after coming home from her work as a care aide at an old folks home. When
introduced, she barely smiles and says little.
Her age is hard to guess. She looks younger than my
20-something daughter. But in experience, she is world weary old.
Raped at age 7 by her father. Sold into prostitution at age
9. Eight children. Eight different fathers. Four abortions. Drug addicted. Supplied by her
pimp to keep her enslaved.
What does Maria know about love?
She doesn’t love her children – they are a constant reminder
of how she has been abused by men.
After finishing a year of drug rehabilitation, Maria wondered
what would happen to her next. If she went home to her father’s house, he would
just return her to her pimp. What would she do with her children?
Enter Dorothy, a 60-something Canadian woman with a vision
to help Mexican women. On a shoestring, much prayer, and a lot of gumption, she
started up a women’s transition home where women like Maria can come and stay
for one year.
As my husband and I walked through the kitchen, Dorothy
asked Tim, “Do you know anything about fridges? I’ve defrosted this one and it
fills with ice in a matter of days?” Tim took a look and couldn’t find anything
wrong in such a short time.
“I’m teaching the women how to cook, how to make jam. We
sell it in the market on Fridays.”
“The oven isn’t working just now.”
“Here’s our sewing room. We had someone out and now we have
four machines working. A hotel in Canada donated their used linens and we are
remaking them into usable sets and selling them.”
Maria lives here. With
her children. With food. Warm beds. Safety. Maria’s children knew so little. Now they no
longer urinate in corners of the house. They use cutlery. They attend school.
Dorothy helped Maria find a job. She loves it.
What does Maria know about love? Love accepts. Love helps.
Love is patient and kind. Love acts.
As we left, Dorothy said, “Please pray that Maria will love
her children. Please pray that Maria will know that Jesus loves her.”
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| Lorrie Orr |
Oh Lorrie, this is so heart-tugging.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yet, hope glimmers. I'm grateful for Dorothy and others like her. I'm glad you shared this.
And, I'm whispering a heart's prayer for that Love That Never Fails to take these precious ones and give each one beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning... for truly the Spirit of the Lord is upon Dorothy as she proclaims liberty to the captives through these wondrous acts of love.
Heart wrenching story, yet, a perfect example of unconditional love in action
ReplyDeleteGut-wrenching and powerful. What a story, Lorrie! Well told. I'm saying a prayer for Maria and her children and for Dorothy as she works with these needy women and families.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Lorrie. If each of us who reads this blog, says a prayer. . .