LOVING THROUGH THE STORM

Today was a day where I praised God for my life.

I started out today by going to Betzy’s hair salon (Betzy is a very special lady from our church).  My purpose of going to the salon was not to have a haircut, but to meet a mom and her three kids.  Two weeks ago this same lady was in a park with her husband, the chief of investigative police, and their three kids, they went to ride bicycles.  As this dad was taking his kid’s bikes out of the van, two cars drove up and three men jumped out shooting him at point blank range, in front of his kids.  Today in the salon this seemed like an ordinary family, other ladies chatted about their upcoming parties, their kids going back to school and would have never known that this family was sitting in silent pain.  The mom’s red rimmed eyes told the story of her broken heart. 

I went to the salon with the purpose to meet this lady and invite her to our upcoming Ladies retreat called “Serenity”.  This retreat is being purposed for Women who have passed through a painful situation.  We have invited the mom’s from the daycare fire, a few moms who have lost their kids to Cancer, and now this young mom who lost her husband with this tragic situation. This visit started my day.

I ended today by going to a fourth birthday party, but this wasn’t a normal party; there was no cake, no piñata, no laughter.  At this party people sat silently looking at the picture of the small birthday girl. The picture sat on top of her grave. 

We were there to celebrate the life and remember the death of tiny Camila.  We have been blessed to meet this family though the therapy that I am dong as Camila’s older sister Emilia survived the daycare fire but with severe burns. The parents, Carlos and Cindy, are young, just 20 years old, but have lived through more than most twice their age.  At this same birthday service I talked to three other moms who were there for Camila but arrived early to tidy up the little graves of their own children who died in the daycare.  I was able to invite them to the retreat, as well as one other mom whose daughter lost her leg due to her injuries in the fire.

We ended our time at the birthday party releasing white heart balloons up into the sky.  We all watched as they floated slowly out of sight.  It was at that moment, that I said thank you Lord for my husband,  thank you for my three healthy kids, and thank you for bringing me here in the middle of this pain, strengthen me and give me wisdom and compassion.

*****Please pray with us as we plan for the retreat, pray for the women who will be coming that they will find child care etc., Pray for the Canadians coming to help and for the conference speaker and psychologist who will participate.

*****As a part of our therapy we will be scrapbooking (each woman will make an album of their deceased or injured family member) If you have any scrapbooking supplies that you would like to donate please get them to the Zion church office in Didsbury before September 6th.

Thank you, and many blessings,

Shelli Neufeld