Newsletter - June, 2009

The Least of These My Brethren

June, 2009

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40

Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210. (717) 349-7033

A Widow Who Puts God First
Alba Rivera constantly tells us how happy and grateful she feels with God and the Good Shepherd Society for the help she has received through a recent loan. She has also expressed thanks that God has given her children and her special care throughout their lives. It’s not that she hasn’t had hardships in life, but she is grateful for the blessings that have resulted from working through these challenges in life. Allow me to tell you a little about the life and business of this dear sister:

Sister Alba was born in a very poor and disintegrated home. She spent her first few years of life with her mother, but at the age of 10 she went to live with her father. She never got the chance to study in school. Having no other choice, she had to start working as a housemaid when she was only 12 years old. “I practically grew up by myself,” sister Alba said as she summed up her childhood memories. It was through her job that she came to live in Siguatepeque, and also how she came to know Jesus Christ. She started attending an evangelical church in Siguatepeque and gave her life to Christ when she was 18 years old. In that same church, she met the man who later became her husband. Five children were born to their marriage: four daughters and one son. The oldest child is Isbela Campos, who has also been a faithful beneficiary of the Society. Sister Alba and her husband worked very hard so that their children could get an education. She told me, “I worked hard so that my children could study because I never got that opportunity. My parents never cared about my education, but I think that is a responsibility of parents.”

This sister not only raised and educated her five children, but she also cared for some of her husband’s nephews and nieces. There were times when she had up to nine children under her care. She and her husband had to work very hard to provide for their home, but she says that that has been one of the greatest satisfactions she has had in life. However the hardest situation came when her husband passed away. She kept going with God’s help. Besides blessing her with good health, she has always provided for her needs. She is so grateful for that. Another satisfaction she has had is seeing that her children are close to her and are always caring for her now that they are all adults. She also constantly receives “thank you’s” from the nephews and nieces she was able to help.

Sister Alba has been a hard working woman, and she used to wash and iron clothing for different families. She has also prepared and sold tortillas and other foods. A few years ago she started making popsicles, “chocobananas” (frozen bananas covered with chocolate), and other frozen snacks to sell. She operates this small business out of her home, and the business is doing very well. However, as her business grew, she found that her refrigerator was no longer large enough to hold all the frozen snacks she prepared each day. So the Society of the Good Shepherd granted her a loan to buy a new refrigerator and to start a side business making bed sets. Thank you so much for your prayers and donations that bless so many in this country. God bless you richly! Nancy Barahona

Click on the following link to read our Past Newsletters

Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Donations

100% of all donations go to the designated work in Honduras. Our overhead and travel ex-penses are paid through other means.