Zulma

What a testimony Zulma has! I wish you could hear it from her and see the change that Christ has made in her life. Before we had moved to San Francisco, Zulma would visit out team mate’s house begging for food, clothes and money. Jean tried hard to find things to give her, but Zulma’s demanding attitude was, at times, difficult to tolerate. One day Jean decided to visit Zulma at her house. Jean was deeply moved by the poverty of this women and she wrote about it in a newsletter. A supporter felt led to send money to help the family. Right after we moved to San Francisco, the church decided to use the money to build them a better house (there were 6 of them living in a one room shack). She hadn’t ever come to church and we made sure that the gift of a house came with no strings attached. I first got to know Zulma at those work days.

When the job was done, Zulma asked for a bible study at her house. She faced a bit of persecution from her husband. One night she had a dream that Jesus was holding his hands out to her, personally inviting her to Him. She decided then and there to follow Him no matter the cost. And not only was she faithful in having her family prepared for study each week, but she faithfully invited her relatives...and they came. Within a year, they were coming to Sunday church services consistency, accepting Jesus, being baptized and choosing marriage over their previous adulteress relationships. And to think that God used someone who had never been to school so mightily!

Zulma has become one of my closest friends and I so enjoy visiting with her. She has a giggly fun loving personality and is one of the few people I can truly laugh with. She works as a restaurant maid and waitress 12 hours a day and is paid a measly $2.00 (a day). She has 7 kids to care for. Her oldest daughter, 16 years, has never attended school, her oldest son, 13 years, completed through 6th grade only and dropped out. Her husband, Pedro, work just 2 days a week in someone else’s field – 30 minutes away by foot. His wage is small too, but he gets to bring home mandioca (a type of tuber root) for supper.

Pray that Zulma will continue to have that type of Godly influence on other people. Pray also for her husband, he has never come to church. Pray that their children will one day make a profession of faith for Christ.



Zulma (in the green shirt) and some of her relatives