Jealous of a Mother's Strength
It’s Day 3 in this beautiful country of Guatemala and yet again I leave a people that God has truly put on my heart. This is Margarita. Her smile is infectious.
When our eyes connected as we were first introduced by our translator, I sensed a commonality with her.
Mom.
She shared with us how she tried for seven years to have a child and how God “finally” blessed her with a beautiful daughter named Eva.
She told us about her husband Jose and how he works as a day laborer. Telling us how difficult it’s been to find work lately and how he is currently working as a farm hand coming home every other week.
Her home is no more than 500 square feet yet she is so humbled with what she has.
She’s a mother, like so many of us, yet my heart had ached for her.
It was as though I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her what an amazing job she is doing. To look her in the eye and tell her she’s beautiful. To let her know that every seed she has sown in her garden and every tear she has shed longing for a child did not go unnoticed. That God has been with her every step of the way and will continue to walk every step with her.
She’s a mom like so many of us. Yet I find myself jealous of her strength. To endure the conditions of dirt floors and a wooden bed frame with no mattress is not endurance for her but spoiled comforts for me.
One of the many things I love about Food for the Hungry is how they have helped Margarita with the purification of her water by providing a water filtration system in her home allowing her to provide good, clean water for her and Eva.
Margarita also showed us the greenhouse that she and 14 other women have recently “co-op” with planting zucchini and soon to be other vegetables to plant and harvest. The land is generously being rented by “Don” Jose with seeds provided by Food for the Hungry (FH).
It just blows my mind! Why would you not want to be part of this incredible organization? I’ve seen the “fruit” with my own eyes. FH truly impacts these communities and has helped so many families here in Guatemala providing them with food, water filtration, education, and life skills that truly have helped the family unit stay viable and strong, which is so important to the Guatemalan culture.
If you would like to find out how you can get involved with Food for the Hungry and help mothers like Margarita, then click here to be a part of this incredible opportunity.
Photo credit to the phenomenal Jessica Taylor
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