Hope

My friend, Mariela, just came back from Cuba. Five years ago she grabbed two bags, a bunch of courage and left, what was left, of her “home”. Her mother died when she was about 4 and she was raised by her dad and three older sisters. (One of her sisters is married to Oscar’s brother.) An older (18 year old) brother was killed by a car…about 15 years ago. Her older sister, who she called “mom”, became sick with cancer. Treatments in Argentina and a healing faith are keeping her alive right now. Then, her second sister came down with the same type of cancer. She had several operations in Argentina and she came back to her family in Paraguay. Here, they changed her medicine and her body or stomach is not receiving it. Trials hit hard on this family!
We went to see Mariela and her sister, yesterday. Mariela wasn’t there. She takes care of Amalia during the night shift. Amalia’s face and black, curly hair are still beautiful, but her body was just bones. She must weigh only about 60 lbs. She is 35 and has two little boys. She’s a nurse and worked 10 years at this same hospital…now she was the patient.
We read scripture together and prayed and tried to understand. We couldn’t make things any better. We couldn’t heal her or kiss her problem away. Day after day on this hospital bed, her only hope is God. She has a wonderful, positive attitude and even has a sense of humor. She ended up teaching ME the meaning of hope…Romans 15:13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.