Pastor Hernandez (Santisima Trinidad) ministering to Jesús’ mother, Araceli

It wasn’t easy to have to tell Jesús Alden Martinez Garibaldi the Servant Event team set to build his house the third week of March, would have to reschedule for the fall, due to the traveling restrictions implemented in the United States as a response to the Covid-19 situation.

“I cried when we realized we’d have to postpone our trip,” Marilyn, the leader of the Peace Lutheran Church Servant Event team from New Berlin, Wisconsin, shared over the phone the week prior to their planned arrival, “In my heart, I was already halfway there.”

Scott (Missions and Ministry Facilitator) and Jesús discuss the logistics of the little house

Despite the restrictions that put the building plans for Jesús’ house on hold, there is still hope in the near horizon for this special eighteen year old man.

He was in an accident about four months ago, which, after multiple surgeries, left him paralyzed from the waist down.  His mother, Araceli, is his full-time caretaker, but like any twenty year old young man, he desires to have his own space, especially since the house he currently shares with his mother, stepfather, and two younger brothers, only has two rooms and a small bathroom.

Due to his current state of immobility, his needs are more than just a space of his own –he has need for a wheelchair that would make it possible for him to move himself, as the one he’s currently using is too big and without foot rests.

Pastor Hernandez shares with Jesús and his mother how God gives hope and love to His children

His mother shared how the church family of San Pedro y San Pablo in Kilometro 30, a mission church supported by Santisima Trinidad, one of Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care’s (YLM) partner churches in Mexico, have been a great source of support for their family, “I’m so grateful for Pastor Hernandez’s constant encouragement in bolstering his emotional and spiritual needs.  He gets depressed, but Pastor Hernandez comes to visit us often, and helps both of us see how God is working to bring His love into our lives, especially during these hard times.”

Luz and Jesus talk over medical needs and future plans

As soon as these needs were shared, Marilyn and her church started fundraising for a wheelchair for Jesús.

“A lot of research on wheelchairs, and which would be the best one for Jesús’ needs, has been done,” Luz Soto, assistant facilitator for the Servant Events’ ministry, shared with Marilyn, “And our hope is to help raise funds, but not only for a wheelchair, but also for other medical needs he has.”

“We are looking into coming down in late fall,” Marilyn wrote in an e-mail a week after they were to be here, “We are excited to help Jesús how he needs right now, and we know God will help provide for him, and us, so we can fulfill our commitment to build his home.”

Thanks to the generous supporters of YLM, people like Jesús in need of a little extra help outside of a house are given hope and shown God’s love through generosity through beautiful acts of kindness.

If you’re interested in learning more on how you can help change Jesús’ life,
please feel free to reach out to us at (915) 858-2588 or send an e-mail to luz.soto@ylm.org