“Joyful Fire”
Martin and Dawna Kennedy
joyful-fyre2@comcast.net
“Joyful Fire”
Martin and Dawna Kennedy
joyful-fyre2@comcast.net
“Mexico City Edition”
March 12-19, 2005AD
“Holas!” in the mighty name of Jesus Christo! - What an adventure we had in Mexico City working with Manos de Vida! The people we met and worked with are awesome. God’s love and his presence is so powerful down there nothing can describe it. Though he understands very little Spanish, Marty wept through an entire worship service on Sunday. It just proves the Holy Spirit doesn’t need a translator. The people who make their living sorting garbage own almost nothing, yet their spiritual wealth is immeasurable. Despite the impoverished conditions and hard life, these people always have a smile on their faces. Their joy is contagious, and not a single person complained over the work they did with us. On Tuesday and Wednesday we mixed and poured concrete for four homes. Wednesday the team hauled the cement mixer up a 45 degree hill some 200 feet after the car towing it couldn’t go any further. Once the concrete began to flow many carried it bucket by bucket another 150 feet to the two remaining houses. On Friday we worked with the children’s ministry. Monday and Thursday were for teaching moms to cook, and to help them with their craftwork that they sell.
There’s a lot more to what happened on our trip than we could ever bring to you in this newsletter. We also promised pictures, and we took over 400 of the work we did and of some sightseeing. We don’t know who got ministered to the most; us or the people we helped. If you want to find out more, please go to our website listed above. Another website will be posted by the rest of the team and we will add a link to it once it is up. May you be blessed and encouraged by the following testimonies.
“Homeless at Age 5” - One of the most colorful and hardest working people we met at Manos de Vida was a young man named Luis. He was always up for a good laugh and everywhere we went his joy was contagious. In the middle of mixing concrete on the side of a hill, working with the children, or just riding along in the van; he was always up to having fun. From taps on the shoulder when someone’s looking the other way to quick comebacks for moments of clumsy American Spanish, he’s always Johnny on the spot. But life wasn’t this colorful for Luis in the beginning. As a baby he was injured in a fall that dislocated his left hip. Since his family was poor they could not afford to take him to the hospital. So he grew up lame, barely able to walk. Then at 5 years of age Luis was kicked out of his home to fend for himself. He then spent many years on the dusty, dirty streets of his neighborhood; scratching out an existence that no American could ever understand.When Luis was 10 or 11, some volunteers from Northwest Medical Teams found him. They offered to pay for the surgery needed to repair his hip. As they and the surgeons tended to his physical needs, Jesus was working on his spiritual needs as well. During his time in the hospital and recovery he met the staff at Manos de Vida. They had offered to take him in and train him up to be a missionary to his people. At first he was reluctant, but once he decided to accept Jesus into his life, everything changed. He not only found a home with Manos de Vida, he later was reunited with his family! Luis is 18 now and he is a witness to his family and to his community of the love and healing power of Jesus Christ. As a result many have come to Christ and are attending church. Luis is also a first year masonry apprentice and is building homes for those who make a living in the dump. Most of all he does it all with enthusiasm and joy, always having a smile on his face.
“Beaten, Robbed, and Left for Dead” - Javier is another individual we met that Manos de Vida had, and still is, helping. He and his family are all born again Christians, who at this time are living with his sister. Two weeks ago as he was returning home from work he was jumped by a group of young men. They beat and robbed him of his jacket and 1000 Pecos. We don’t know if that was a week’s or two week’s wages, but the beating did leave him unemployed. In Mexico there is no disability insurance. He had suffered some brain injury when the thieves struck him in the back of the head with a large rock, leaving him for dead. We first met him and his family on Monday. He told us of the beating and how it forced him and his family to leave their home for fear of further attacks. Yet as he described to us his circumstances, he always gave thanks to Jesus for saving his life and protecting his family.
Though Javier is unemployed, broke, and recovering from his injuries; his faith is strong. So too is his joy as he asked us to return on Thursday for more fellowship and music. Not only could Javier sing and play the guitar, his whole family could sing and play everything from accordions to stand up bass fiddles to 12 string guitars. So on Thursday we were in for a treat. When we returned Javier had all his family present and we all sang praises and “happy songs” mixed in with lots of fellowship. The whole house was filled with voices and music thanking Jesus for what he is doing for this family. We taught them “If You Are Happy and You Know It” (clap your hands). It was a joyous time that would never indicate to the outside world of this man’s plight. For God is much greater than our circumstances.
“Faith under Fire” – During one of our trips from Manos de Vida’s compound back to our hotel we stopped to visit Margarita and her family. This time instead of finding a house neat, colorful, and tidy; it was filled with clutter, and was unkempt. The only family members present were the children. Her husband is always gone, and he doesn’t work for reasons unknown to us. She was off tending to her baked goods store. We visited the children for a few minutes, giving gifts and food to them. The smiles on their faces said it all. In the midst of great trial, these little ones were just so happy and thankful. Though it wasn’t much we had left with them, it certainly made their day. It made ours too. Then our host explained to us as to why things are the way they are. Margarita is a recent convert to Christianity and she’s been under severe spiritual warfare. Not only has she met rejection by her husband and from others in her community; her store has been broken into three times. Everything was stolen. Baked goods, tables, shelves, racks; all of it: Gone. She is trying to raise a family and is the sole bread winner. She walks to work about five miles a day, pulls down 12 hour days, and is exhausted when she gets home. That is why the house is in the condition it is in.
A couple days later we stopped to visit Margarita at her store. It is located on a dusty back street nestled in the corner of one of the countless cinder block and mortar buildings in her community. The storefront is colorful and inside it is tidy, but nearly empty. Yet, as we visited Margarita it is clear that her faith is unshaken. In the midst of having to start over for the third time, she knows who to rely on for help: Jesus Christ. In spite of the overwhelming odds against Margarita, her faith has risen above the circumstances. We prayed with and for her that God would not only bless her store, but would protect it too. That she and her family would also be blessed and protected, and that provision would be made to repair their house. We also prayed that her husband would come to his senses, get saved, and be the man he’s supposed to be.
“Needs” – When we first arrived at Manos de Vida on Monday Marty wished he’d brought his tools. The vehicle they use to tow their concrete mixer is a 1981 AMC Hornet. Upon inspection he found out its running on 5 of 6 cylinders. If it breaks down, Manos de Vida cannot pour floors or build buildings, which is the mainstay of their ministry. They are in great need of a ¾ or 1 ton crew cab, 4x4, truck or SUV with a manual transmission and a solid front axle.
On Tuesday we met a teenage girl also named Margarita. We’d just finished pouring our first two floors and were walking back to the Manos de Vida’s compound. Her mother explained to us that Margarita is in need of glasses. Her vision is so poor she cannot read the chalkboard from fifteen centimeters away (about six inches). She attends the school at Manos de Vida as well as church. Glasses cost about $70 US and her family cannot afford them. We also prayed that Margarita would not only receive a new pair of glasses, but that her sight would be restored too.
If you feel led to offer your time, finances, or prayers to help Manos de Vida’s mission, or to get them a vehicle or Margarita’s glasses please contact NW Medical Teams at P.O. Box 10; Portland, OR 97207-0010. Any checks should be designated to Manos de Vida, Mexico City. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.
Shalom,
Marty and Dawna