Extending Gifts of Peace…
Perhaps no one comprehends the gift of God's Peace more than a widow.
In biblical times, widows quickly became outcasts of society, forgotten, abandoned, neglected and worse. In modern days, there are still far too many similarities, resulting in great suffering. It has always been up to the men and women of the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to come alongside widows and redeem them back into the fold of a family.
Walking with widows is a holy and quiet work, made possible by the gifts and prayers of many. When on this path, it’s not about projects. It’s personal. In Haiti, we serve widows by offering employment; providing food, clothing, housing and other basic needs; helping them raise their children; and helping them bury their loved ones and live out the remainder of their own lives with dignity. Here in the US, we serve widows in one-on-one relationships, coming alongside them to pray with them, navigate life with them and serve them in ways as unique as each person and situation invites.
Pictured above is our dear sister, Marie-Lourde, a widow who has been in the employ of Eyes Wide Open International in Haiti since 2012. Her story, some of which we have shared before, is one of tragedy and triumph. She grew up as a child slave. Denied an education, she never learned to read or write. She was brutally abused. Despite her vulnerability, by the grace of God, she was rescued by a loving man. They were married and started a family. Then she lost everything when he died. As a homeless young widow with four children, she was desperate for work. When our paths crossed, she was enslaved again, working in a very small, hot, enclosed space, cooking daily for 50 people with no help and no income. When EWOI gained custody of our original 37 children, she and two of her daughters became a part of our family.
What a beautiful example she is of an instrument of the Prince of Peace. She is now surrogate mom to many as she ministers through gifts of cooking, baking, cleaning, serving in so many thoughtful ways - nourishing bodies, minds and spirits through her own quiet and deeply impactful work. She has earned her way to making 3x the national average wage for a Haitian worker. Through her faithful work, she is able to provide in ways that have forever changed the legacy of her family. One of her daughters has graduated from high school and cosmetology school; the other is in high school and has attended some technical school classes. Both have promising futures. Marie-Lourde went from being homeless to building her own home.
She expresses her gratitude often for the ways we have surrounded her with love and acceptance and provided employment and practical assistance to her and her children. But she has nothing on us! We can't imagine what our EWOI Children's Home family would be without her.
From Exodus to Ruth, from Psalms to Luke, we can read stories of destitution and despair and choose to follow examples of redemptive relationship, practical provision and compassion and care. From across the US and around the world, we can reach into situations of suffering with prayers and practical support and speak Jesus to women He holds very close to His heart. We can walk with them through unimaginable grief into a life of purpose and peace.
