50: Alejandra

On Saturday, Hna Baldauf and I went to visit a woman named Alejandra. She was baptized about 3 years ago, but she had an accident that messed up her knee and hasn't been able to come to church since. 

We stepped into the saddest cement block house I have ever seen. We met Alejandra, a woman with one of the biggest hearts in the world. As we sat in the only 3 chairs in the house, she unravelled her story to us.  Everything about her youth, life, marriage, kids, divorce, health problems, and financial struggles. She explained her son's drug addiction and the way that has ruined her house, her family, her finances, everything. She told us about how her glasses broke a while back but she doesn't have money enough to go get more. She bought a new phone recently, only to find she was swindled and was given a dud. 

Even though she has next to nothing, she recently took in a woman named Carla who was living in the streets after her abusive husband kicked her out. While we sat and talked, Alejandra sent Carla to get their food for the day with 260 pesos. Which would probably be about $2 USD. 

She told us she was tired. Tired of fighting and trying and working. Tired of hoping and waiting. She felt like God had abandoned her or was punishing her for her sins. How could He watch her suffer for so long? When will it just end?

The words that came out of my mouth were not my own. I felt completely unqualified to be comforting Alejandra. Here I am, a 20 year old white girl who never went hungry a day in her life. I'm wearing a big, warm coat to fight the cold while she barely had a fleece pullover. 

What I could do was remind her that she is a beloved Daughter of God. I could testify of the Atonement of Christ and promise her that she's not alone. That she has never been, and never will be. We decided to share Alma 36:12-21 with her and promise that His grace covers ALL. No matter how dark her night or bitter her pain, the sun will rise and she will feel joy much sweeter than her pain. 

I can't do much to help Alejandra's situation. I can hardly even imagine how she faces every single day. But I am grateful to have the opportunity to remind her that it will be okay. To restore a little light and give a flicker of hope to a very broken life. 

Never before have I felt so deeply that God loves someone. It was powerful. I know the love that God feels for Alejandra is the same love He feels for every single one of His children. That included you too. And I hope you remember it every day of your life.

Hna Thrasher