We have mentioned on our family blog about our sister Leni taking a job working for a woman in Argentina. This woman had cancer and was here in Porto Alegre for treatment, received a massage from Leni, and after getting to know her a little, invited her to work for her for 3 months. Actually, she insisted that Leni go with her. Leni prayed about this, and felt peace about taking this job. She felt that she would be sharing the love of God with this woman, and hopefully bring her to faith in God and Christ. Here is what happened:
Leni left here and went, not to Argentina where the woman lives, but to Punta del Este, Uruguay. The woman owns an apartment there and was staying there during the warm tourist season. When Leni arrived, she met Miriam, who also worked for the woman as a housekeeper. Not surprisingly, Leni made fast friends with Miriam and found out that she was being mistreated by her employer and was missing her 3 children. She had not seen them since she began working at the apartment, because she was never given a day off to go visit them. Leni began to pray with Miriam and share her daily Bible devotional with her. Miriam was very grateful.
Meanwhile, Leni's relationship with her employer was becoming difficult. Leni went there to give massages, help the woman with her medications and make sure that her eating habits were good. She discovered that the woman drank often, which is a huge no-no when taking chemotherapy. The woman had violent mood swings and Leni never knew what to expect from her. One day the woman was glad for Leni and Miriam to pray together, and the next day she prohibited it. Leni continued to pray and study on her own and shared with Miriam whenever she was able to.
Miriam found out about our simple house churches, and she liked the idea so much. She was disillusioned with some of the churches she had been a part of in the past or that she had seen in her community. Leni began talking to her about becoming a Christian and being baptized. Miriam decided that she did want to accept Christ. They began praying for a way for her to be baptized. The apartment was located in an upper-class beach town, surrounded by a beautiful ocean. But they were limited in transportation and with their employer forbidding them to pray together, what would she say about a baptism?
Their opportunity came when their employer went to Argentina for a cancer treatment. Leni found out that there was a swimming pool at the apartment building, and one night she took Miriam there and baptized her. We are so thankful for our new sister in Christ!
Soon after, Leni was abruptly "let go" by her employer and she returned to Porto Alegre. She will be getting in touch with Miriam as soon as possible to help her find a church family, probably in Montevideo.
We praise God that Leni accomplished the mission that God sent her on. She thought that it was to help the sick woman, which she did to the best of her ability. But, God used her in an unexpected way to bring to Christ a person that she didn't even know about before.
Would you please pray for these things?
1. Praise God for the way that He used Leni.
2. That Miriam would be able to receive her salary and leave to go visit her children and that she would be able to make contact with Leni.
3. For a church family for Miriam.
4. For peace for Leni. Working for this lady was, and continues to be, very stressful for her.
"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10: 14-15
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