Pedro is 75 years old, a man with a face marked by the years and by a cruel destiny. His life was never easy, but what marked him the most was that violent assault in which he almost lost his life. He received a very strong blow to the chest by the robbers, which, according to the doctors, had left him dead for a few minutes. He was resuscitated thanks to a defibrillator and after several months of recovery, he was fitted with a pacemaker to regulate his heart, which, although it helps himto keep going, reminds him every day of how close he came to no longer being alive.
He cannot read or write, but Pedro has a wisdom that is not taught in books. He had worked all his life as a bricklayer, learning from others, with calloused hands, and with a simple heart that is full of love for life.
On the other hand, there is Elsa, his life mate. She, 67 years old, struggles with diabetes and cardiac arrhythmia that weakens her and with an enlarged heart. Some time ago she suffered a stroke, leaving her with difficulty in speaking and moving and confined to her house.
Unfortunately, their humble home suffered from a fire a year before. The fire did not destroy everything, but the damage was severe.
The roof was not properly repaired, and with every rain or storm they feared it would fall on them. The roof leaked and when it rained, the water and the dampness was soaking into their bones. They lived in fear, but not without hope, because in spite of everything they had to live through, they did not lose faith.
When our Social Outreach Ministry – a ministry dedicated to visiting the community to learn about their needs – met Pedro and Elsa, they were given hope that they could get their house rebuilt. They began praying to God that it would happen.
One ordinary day, a group of young people from our Oblate Pastoral Center knocked on their door to propose something they had been praying for: to build them a better roof over their heads. Pedro and Elsa could not believe it. They felt as if it was a miracle.
Although he no longer had the strength he once had, Pedro had offered to help in any way he could with the construction. Elsa, from her chair, watched with shining eyes, grateful for the help. Within days, the rafters and beams were firmly repaired, the structure was secure, and the roof stopped leaking.
After the construction was completed, the Oblate Health Program of Mary Immaculate began to take action by providing specialized medical care to the couple, giving them greater hope that they would not go through so much pain again.
As in the case of Pedro and Elsa, our Roofing Program has helped more than 25 families, giving them a new opportunity to be assured that their home will not collapse, and that this winter they will not be in the cold and rained on.
We have the goal of building 60 roofs in these coming months.
Together let’s keep building hope!
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