Lifelong Asthma, Home Relieves Strain
Family of Christ Lutheran Church with a very grateful family in Anapra, Mexico.
In tears, Lizell recounted the times she has rushed her son to the hospital, praying his airway could be opened in time and he would live. As a baby it was discovered allergies and asthma would be an ongoing danger, requiring medicines to help them manage the symptoms and deal with emergencies. Unfortunately, pay at her husband’s full-time work at the maquilla (the factory) made it almost impossible to pay for the basics of life for a family of six housing, food, clothing, school, AND medicine. Lizell described some of the ways she and her husband Emilio tried to provide for their family:
“Each week I had to decide whether to buy food or buy medicine and often I skipped meals so that my family could eat and we could at least purchase some of the medicine my son needs. For awhile I worked night shifts at the maquila while my husband worked day shifts. One of us could always be home to care for our young children, but I couldn’t continue going without sleep. When people need help in their houses or need meals prepared for special occasions, they pay me a bit here and there to help. Often, though, we do not have the medicine on hand that will open my son’s throat in an emergency.”
Lizell applied to the selection committee of YLM in Anapra at the mission Iglesia Luterana de la Santa Biblia for a home. They had already been granted a parcel of land by the council in Anapra that provides unclaimed land for families such as hers. A home of their own would allow their large family to live safe and secure and enable them to afford the daily medicine their son needs.
YLM’s committee wanted to help but it wasn’t clear if there would be a servant event group able to build a home this year. It was a great joy and surprise when YLM’s servant event project facilitator, Alonso Gonzalez, gave Lizell and Emilio the good news. A servant event team was coming to build them a house. Materials would be delivered THIS WEEK so that Emilio could start work pouring their home’s foundation, the concrete could harden, and on Monday the work could begin.
Family of Christ Lutheran Church
Ready to serve, a team of men and women from Family of Christ Lutheran Church of Ham Lake, Minnesota, arrived at YLM on March 9th. Half of the group would work in El Paso at YLM helping clean and improve the 100 year-old buildings and grounds, especially working in the food warehouse. The other half would begin work on a home for Emilio and Lizell. Weather forcasts for the week were fore high-winds and rain. 60 mph gusts could greatly disrupt the construction. They began work on Monday and by Wednesday were mostly done. On Thursday they were able to present keys to the family. The severe weather hadn’t stopped the work, and the home is beautiful! With several experienced builders on the team, in addition to the basic home design YLM normally provides, the team was able to add nice touches such as trim, a ceiling fan, bunk beds for the children, and even a bend and end table so the family can sit outside and enjoy the international view, Anapra stretching into New Mexico, USA, that their property gives.
