Monday, October 8, 2007

Pray for Esmelda

She used to live at Casa Aleluya but ran away a couple of months ago. Angie has been able to keep in touch with her and spend much of her off time with her. Esmelda now wants to return to Casa, but has not been allowed to. The other day I got to hang out with her and Angie, and I went with them to drop Esmelda off at home. She is living with 2 sisters, one of them pregnant, and about 7 small children, in a one room space, which consists of concrete walls and floor, with 2 thin mattresses on the floor, a table, some food and dishes and a range-cook top, with a curtain for a door, in a sort of walkway of several other homes like this, which leads out to the street. Please pray for her strength, safety, relationship with her sisters (not the greatest, seems to be lots of manipulation,) and relationship with the Lord (she says she is a believer.)

Please also pray for wisdom for Mike regarding whether or not to let her return in the future, and for the potential effect his decision would have on many of the kids at Casa, for better or for worse. She ran away with another child from Casa Aleluya, which is one thing that really gets to Mike (it's one thing to run away on your own and cheat yourself out of the provision and care given here, but it's another to influence someone else to take them away too.) Pray for Esmelda to have motivation and opportunity to work in an honest job and/or go to school. And please also pray for encouragement for Angie amidst this situation, as she views Esmelda (16) like a daughter and is having a really hard time seeing her in such poor circumstances.