By Ed and Denise Aulie —
Springtime in the Sierra is full of life with baby lambs, baby foals, baby chicks and newborn babies in the Náhuatl homes.
We have known Carlos since he was a boy but now he is a young Náhuatl man. He began dating a young woman who did not know the Lord. We saw his joy fading and his church attendance become sporadic. One Sunday he stood up to tell us that he was ashamed and convicted that he had caused this young woman to become pregnant. He confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness.
How precious to see each person stand up to talk to him in Náhuatl assuring him of his or her friendship and belief in God working through this situation for him. He was visibly moved with tears in his eyes.
Carlos and Cristina were married very quietly with little fanfare. In a small room where they were to live, they celebrated their union with a sign with their names on it and balloons. They shared some chicken in broth, home-made tortillas and a small cake.
Cristina, who was not a believer, began coming with Carlos to church. We watched her transform from an observer to a believer. How beautiful to see her eagerly read the Word, pray, and truly believe. How dear to see Carlos with his arm around her introducing her as “my wife”. We have seen them grow in their faith and sweet love for each other ever since.
In short order a baby would be coming – a little girl. On Cristina’s birthday we were each asked to give a little devotion for the soon to be born child. To our surprise her formerly hostile, distant family came and listened. They were nodding, smiling and delighted with the Word of God that we shared. What a turn-around! We have often thought of the beautiful scripture “A little child shall lead them” Isaiah 11:6 in reference to the influence of children on the faith of adults. This child was already affecting the whole family for good.
Cristina was overwhelmed with emotion. Our hearts sang to see her security in the love of Carlos and the Lord. She recognizes that God has blessed her with a man of faith and faithfulness in Christ. Many women in the Sierra cannot say that this is their situation.
Only a 15 minute walk from Cristina and Carlos, we visited a profoundly deaf young woman who had her first baby – also a little girl.
This tiny infant was on oxygen from the start. She could not nurse so they would spoon feed her some formula. They kept her alive for two months with rented cylinders of oxygen used day and night, hoping against hope, until she died. The heartache was palpable for the young couple and the grandparents. They do not know the Lord but through hand-signs and visits, they know we care. They too listen respectively to God’s Word as we use signs to communicate. May it bear fruit as God has promised.
The younger generation seeks counsel and hope from us. It is a great responsibility and an amazing one to be accepted by another culture in these matters. These relationships take time – lots of time – to nurture. Now when we look at the whole group of young children in this new village, it’s as if we can already see them in a blink of an eye becoming teens and then adults with children of their own. We feel the clock ticking for them to be exposed to God’s Word, to hear about Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them and to know He is real for them this very day. By God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s leading, their lives are marked by Him. We are conscious of this in every interaction.
Please pray that we would reach these young lives around us and encourage those who already are in young adulthood to listen and heed the words of the Lord. The need is so great. We are thankful for you and your prayers and your support of us here.
To learn more about Ed and Denise’s ministry, go here
