“Sometimes it is difficult and hard when you see and become aware of other people’s problems.”
Let me introduce you to Mr. Maravilla. He is a 70 year old man with no family to be found. He has been wandering from place to place and does not stay at any one location very long. For the last few months, this lost soul has been desperately searching for a clinic or hospital. He even stopped at several churches in hopes of finding anyone who would help him with his terribly debilitating problem in his legs and feet. He was continually turned away and denied any help, making it his and someone else’s problem and forcing him to live an almost nomad type of life in despair. It sounds like a parable in the Bible, right?
Mr. Maravilla had met Fr. Candito some years ago and went to ask his advice. After hearing of his dire situation, Fr. Candito offered him a small place at the church to stay and suggested he visit our Foundation a couple blocks from the church.
Andrés, our liaison in El Salvador, shared how Mr. Maravilla showed up one day at our Foundation with desperation on his face and distress in his voice, implausibly on his own. That encounter left a deafening question and image imprinted in Andrés’ brain forever. Mr. Maravilla grasped Andrés’ arms and looked him straight in the eyes and pleaded, “PLEASE, HELP ME.”
The only response that Andrés could give him was,
“I cannot guarantee you anything, but I promise to do everything within our power and resources to help.”
Jerry
