Lately we've been going to the center of town and evangelizing. Dad and Valentin go on their own a lot and pray for sick people and beggars, talk with street vendors and people selling stuff. On the weekend, the church people go out to different places around the city to invite people to church and to tell them about Jesus. It seems like each family has their favorite area they like to go to - Dad's is Puebla's historic downtown.
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| If you look closely, you can see Dad, Mom...and Austin crutching down the walkway. |
There are always crowds of people to be found in this area of town.
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| Bro Valentin passing out fliers |
WARNING: There are two really gross pictures coming up. If you can't stomach that kind of thing, then scroll down quickly with your eyes closed!!
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A couple months ago, Dad and Valentin met a beggar that has sat in front of one of the popular cathedrals for years. I remember when he first was there - his leg was broken and torn up terribly. His leg wasn't in a bandage and he had the open, raw wound visible for passersby to see.
A few years have passed since then and the skin on his leg has healed up, but he was left crippled.
So like I was saying, Dad introduced himself to this man and started talking with him. He found out this man hurt his leg while on the job. He asked what happened to get his leg to this stage and he said that they had operated on it and it didn't heal correctly. Dad asked him what the name of his surgeon was. Turns out it was Dr. Rojas, the SAME doctor that operated on Austin's broken leg earlier this year and messed it up. We were blown away to hear of this injustice! What a tragedy! Austin was able to go to the U.S. to an American doctor that knew what he was doing and get his leg fixed. He has recovered wonderfully!
This man however is now left to beg in the streets with gangrene with no recourse.
Austin's leg was broken in almost this same spot and his doctor in Mexico put in these same plates and screws. If you look closely, you can see the metal plate in the open wound on this man's leg. Dad said the wound smelled terrible, like death. Flies and gnats were trying to get at it and his leg was obviously extremely infected.
We now have found out he is going to have to have the leg amputated. This injury and botched operation could very well cause his death.
Dad felt a very strong burden for this man seeing that our family just went through this trial a few months ago. He prayed for the man, witnessed to him, invited him to church. The man responded positively so Dad went to pick him up for church that next Sunday. It was then that this beggar man told Dad he couldn't go to church on Sundays because that was his biggest day for alms. Isn't that astounding? We couldn't believe he would prefer to make money over having Jesus heal him and save his soul.
Dad has continued to visit this man and try to work with him, but he does not seem interested. He doesn't realize the danger his life is in and that the solution to all his problems is right in front of him.
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Mom and I walked this busy bridge back and forth many times passing out fliers and inviting people to church.
There was an incline to climb the bridge which made for good cardio...
Come down the other side, stretch your legs and go back up again...!
The things you see on outreach...
~Bethany~
