June 2014 - eyesight healed

Jesus said in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) We are privileged many times to see this beatitude fulfilled in the lives of the poor that we serve. The people we work with may be lacking in the material necessities of life, but they are often rich in faith – faith that moves mountains.

This was the case with Crescencia Tapia. Crescencia was going blind as a result of a stroke she had suffered. Not being able to afford the operation she was advised to get, she turned with childlike faith to God. She shared the following testimony with me:

Two years ago I had a bad stroke. I was losing my eyesight. Day by day my eyesight got worse, to the point where I wasn’t able to see much at all. The doctors told me that I had a lot of blood in my brain from the stroke which was damaging my vision. The eye doctor told me, “The only way to remove that blood from your brain is for you to have an operation.”

I left feeling very sad and discouraged. There was no way that I could afford an operation. But then I remembered my faith in my Savior Jesus. “Lord God,” I prayed, “You know that I can’t afford an operation. Will you please operate on me instead?” After I prayed, I felt that operation! I felt something going on in my head. God heard my prayer and operated on me.

For that reason now I can see – because the Lord operated on me. My sight is restored, and I can see fine!

I went back to the eye doctor, and he told me with disbelief, “I don’t understand it, but the blood is gone. There is nothing wrong with your vision now.” I don’t think he believed me when I told him Jesus had operated on me, but it doesn’t matter. Because I am healed and now I can see. Thank you to my beautiful Lord, Doctor Jesus!

[I’m sorry that I forgot to take Crescencia’s picture for this newsletter.]

May 2014 - watermelon multiplied

We have been going through old photos and documents to organize our files and archive the many marvels that the Lord has done in our community. I came across the testimony of some of the people who participated in the jail ministry on a day in 1994 when a watermelon was multiplied. Here is the firsthand account from one of the team members: 

 

“Today we went to the jail in Juarez and this day the Lord let me see a great miracle. Once again, Jesus came walking among human beings doing His miracle of multiplication. He still does that because His promise is that He will be with us always until the end of the world. And again we have proof of that.

“When we arrived in the morning, a group of us were praising God in song while other groups went and spoke to the prisoners in different parts of the jail. As we were singing, an image came to my mind of people carrying trays piled high with watermelon. I didn’t understand what the Lord was trying to tell me, so I forgot about it and kept on singing. 

“Later on we all gathered together as we usually do to share how the ministry went. One of the ladies told us that early that morning someone had given her a watermelon to take to the jail [we always bring food to share with the prisoners since they are not fed regularly in the Juarez jails]. She wondered what she would do with that one watermelon since there would not be enough to share with all the prisoners. She decided to send it to the women’s cells because there are never as many women in jail as there are men. Then if there were any slices left, we could take those to any prisoners locked up in solitary confinement that day. So that’s what they did — they started sharing the watermelon with the women prisoners. Then to the few men who were in solitary confinement. Still having leftover slices, they kept on going to the men’s cells. From that one watermelon, 60 people received a regular size slice of the juicy, sweet fruit. I understood then what the Lord was trying to tell me in the image I received in prayer. He hears the cry of the poor and can supply what we lack in our service to them. I give thanks to God, glory to God, because once again He allowed me to see His marvels and miracles. Woohoo!”

I thought you would enjoy that story.

April 2014 - some of our staff

One of the readers of this newsletter recently asked us to print a picture of the staff of OLYC “so we can get to know you, at least by your photos.” It’s hard to get us in one place at one time, but some of us gathered last month to meet with Bishop Mark Seitz, the newly appointed bishop for the El Paso Diocese. We wanted to let him know what Our Lady’s Youth Center does, and he was happy to hear of the many outreaches we have on both sides of the border. 

Bishop Seitz is seated, and behind him left to right are: Mando & Ramona Solano (directors of the Juarez          ministries, Gaby Federico (our prolife outreach coordinator), myself, Mary Ann & Mike Halloran (directors of  The Lord’s Ranch), Norma & Mike Reuter (Mike is our office manager).

March 2014 - Armando's story, part 2

To pick up where we left off last month, Armando Enrique and his family live in the run-down house pictured below, along with two of their sons and their families (it’s not uncommon for several generations to live together out of necessity.) They were on our list of people needing house repairs, and Armando’s wife Gloria, who volunteers at the Food Bank, kept asking, “When are you coming to my house? We really need a new roof.”

Armando, Gloria, and two of their granddaughters.

Finally their turn came and we sent one of our building teams to check out the situation. They came back telling us, “Their house is falling apart. We cannot put a new roof on that house because it wouldn’t sustain it.” Ramona, who is in charge of the Food Bank, said, “Okay, I’m going to go see it.” When she went, she couldn’t believe the state of disrepair it was in.

She told me later, “They have been on the list for a long, long time. When I got there, Armando was so excited, saying, ‘I pray every morning before I go to work, and this morning I read on a calendar that we have hanging on the wall, “Today blessing has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9) I felt very happy, knowing that this was a word from the Lord for me. Ten minutes later your men showed up to check out the house.’”

After looking around, Ramona told Armando, “We’re not going to just fix your roof, we are going to build you a new house.” He and his family are thrilled. There are three adjoining rooms and a shared kitchen, so while the workers pull down one room, the families will squeeze into the other two rooms. That way they will still have shelter while the construction is going on. Finally, we will replace the kitchen and add an indoor bathroom.

“Praise God! I can never thank my Father God enough!” Armando told us. “He has made my life new and now He is giving me and my family a new house. Blessed be God!”

And we say “Amen!” to that.

February 2014 - Armando Enrique

You may remember us telling you about Armando Enrique a few years ago (February 2011 newsletter), how the police had arrested him for selling drugs and threw him in jail. On the way to jail Armando prayed, “Lord Jesus, please help me. Help me.” He also asked Father Thomas to intercede for him, “Father Thomas, you were my teacher. You taught me to believe. Please help me now.” 

Armando Enrique, freed from drug addiction

 Armando was put in a cell, trembling and shaking from the cold, so he started making the sign of the Cross saying, “I belong to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,” over and over again. He felt someone touch his back, but no one was around. Suddenly all the cold left him and warmth flooded his body.

They transferred him to the federal prison, a rough and scary place, but Armando kept singing praises to God. His cellmates said, “You know a lot of songs. Teach us some.” So they all sang songs of praise to God from their jail cells. One song they sang repeatedly was, “I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back, no turning back.” Tears streamed down Armando’s face as he sang and begged God in his heart, “Help me not go back to drugs. Free me from my drug addiction.”

When he got released from prison, Armando returned to the Food Bank and shared with the community, “I confess I was a drug addict, smoking marijuana often. But I say to all of you – no more. God has healed me, and with His grace I will stay free from drugs. I don’t want to return to the life I was living.”

Many people were cynical of his conversion at the time since he had lived such a bad and wild life. But we are happy to report that Armando remains free from drugs, has gotten a job and shares his story with whomever will listen.

“My life is so different since I stopped using marijuana,” he recently told us. “I give my testimony to many people. When I got out of jail, my old friends, who I used to do drugs with, asked me, ‘What happened to you?’ I told them, ‘I quit, with God’s help – and He can help you too if you ask Him.’ Two of those friends did that, and they quit doing drugs also. Glory to God!”

Next month we are going to share with you about how God answered Armando’s prayer for a new roof for his house. It’s another wonderful testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness. 

Armando’s house where 3 families live crowded together.

 Stay tuned….

January 2014 - Soccer Team Victory

The boys, pictured here with their coaches, proudly display their trophy.

 

Cheers and excited yells filled the air as the boys from our little soccer team at Las Alitas poured out of the van. They had won third place in the area’s soccer tournament, and they wanted everyone to know it!

This is a big victory for a team that hasn’t been playing together for very long. As you may remember, Mando (pictured standing at the far right) came up with the idea of starting a soccer team to reach out to these boys who are so vulnerable to getting involved with gangs, drugs or violence. Being a part of an athletic team, learning good sportsmanship, and having an outlet for their boisterous energy has really boosted the self-confidence of these young men. They are excited to come to our center knowing that they have a place where they belong. Their camaraderie and joy is great to see, and we are thrilled with the changes that have taken place in their lives.

Thanks to a very generous donor who gifted us with a field of artificial turf, we hope to soon have our own soccer field where the teams can practice. We are just waiting for the red tape and paperwork to clear so that we can cross the turf into Mexico.  The kids are anxiously looking forward to a field of their own and to (hopefully) many more victories like this one.

December 2013 - Thank you!

This picture was taken at our ministry center called “Las Alitas” on the east side of Juarez. 

Fr. Jack Vessels, S.J., our chaplain, is shown with the children who dressed up as saints and angels.

Recently I read an answer that Fr. Rick Thomas gave to an interviewer when asked, “Where do you begin to help in such a sea of misery?” Father Thomas replied, “I used to really concern myself about that. My view now is that you do what you can with the resources you have. God indicates what He wants you to do by the resources He gives you.” 

As this year comes to a close, we look back with gratitude on all that we have been able to do with the resources you have given us. Thank you so much for making it possible for us to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need on both sides of the border.

We pray that you and your loved ones be blessed this New Year with the joy and peace Jesus came to bring.