Veronica, Maria, & Ceneda
A while back, a little old lady named Bernardita mentioned in a bible study in her house in San Isidro, that she would like the group to visit Veronica and her two daughters Maria and Ceneda. Veronica's house is about 9000 ft up the volcano in a village called San Geraldo and that's why you see them all bundled up in this picture.
So me and a few other Costaricans began on this adventure. For the most part the group has consisted of me, Bernardita, Vidalia, Caterin, & Cathia all making the trip up the volcano to meet at Veronica's house. On the first few visits, as we met once a week, we tried to be careful about what we said in the meetings as to not immediately offend them of their many idols that they had displayed all over the walls. One week, we had some missionarys down from the states and we went to Veronica's and we were finally addressing idols when Bernardita begans pointing to the wall and saying "like this one, like this one" I think we turned a few shades of red that day and got some laughs but God's timing was perfect and the three ladies were already ready to talk about the idols.
Shortly there after, Veronica began telling us a story of how Ceneda(wheelchair) doesn't sleep good at all in the night because she senses that someone or something is in the room. Veronica also told of how Ceneda has always physically beat up her sister Maria. On various occasions we saw this for ourselves in the meetings. On another occasion, Veronica told us of how one day, a knife just floated across the room and cut her across the forehead while showing us the mark that it made.
Needless to say, a week later, we decided to have a prayer session in the house after fasting and praying. A few weeks later, we asked Veronica if Ceneda was still having problems sleeping at night and she quickly said no and that now, for the first time, she sleeps like a baby. We also asked Maria about the issues of Ceneda beating her up, weather or not that had ceased and she told us that she no longer does that which obviously is a huge encouragement to Maria.
One day I asked Ceneda if she believed that Jesus could heal her and she looked intently at me and said YES! I took her hand and told her to stand up and she did. You have to understand that Ceneda has never stood up in her life. Her sister Maria has lifted her out of the bed and put her in her wheelchair everyday for the past 43 years. She stood up and we supported her on each side but she walked on her on out of the room with us supporting her from falling on one side or the other and did a loop in the other living room and then returned to the room where her mom was. We then helped her return to her wheelchair. She was bursting with excitement that day and now she can help get herself out of the bed in the mornings.
Today, all three are believers in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are all enjoying learning more about what's in the Bible. They often tell us stories of people that they have had the opportunity to witness to and how God is working in Veronica's son as well. They get him to read them the bible and God is using this to change him.
So me and a few other Costaricans began on this adventure. For the most part the group has consisted of me, Bernardita, Vidalia, Caterin, & Cathia all making the trip up the volcano to meet at Veronica's house. On the first few visits, as we met once a week, we tried to be careful about what we said in the meetings as to not immediately offend them of their many idols that they had displayed all over the walls. One week, we had some missionarys down from the states and we went to Veronica's and we were finally addressing idols when Bernardita begans pointing to the wall and saying "like this one, like this one" I think we turned a few shades of red that day and got some laughs but God's timing was perfect and the three ladies were already ready to talk about the idols.
Shortly there after, Veronica began telling us a story of how Ceneda(wheelchair) doesn't sleep good at all in the night because she senses that someone or something is in the room. Veronica also told of how Ceneda has always physically beat up her sister Maria. On various occasions we saw this for ourselves in the meetings. On another occasion, Veronica told us of how one day, a knife just floated across the room and cut her across the forehead while showing us the mark that it made.
Needless to say, a week later, we decided to have a prayer session in the house after fasting and praying. A few weeks later, we asked Veronica if Ceneda was still having problems sleeping at night and she quickly said no and that now, for the first time, she sleeps like a baby. We also asked Maria about the issues of Ceneda beating her up, weather or not that had ceased and she told us that she no longer does that which obviously is a huge encouragement to Maria.
One day I asked Ceneda if she believed that Jesus could heal her and she looked intently at me and said YES! I took her hand and told her to stand up and she did. You have to understand that Ceneda has never stood up in her life. Her sister Maria has lifted her out of the bed and put her in her wheelchair everyday for the past 43 years. She stood up and we supported her on each side but she walked on her on out of the room with us supporting her from falling on one side or the other and did a loop in the other living room and then returned to the room where her mom was. We then helped her return to her wheelchair. She was bursting with excitement that day and now she can help get herself out of the bed in the mornings.
Today, all three are believers in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are all enjoying learning more about what's in the Bible. They often tell us stories of people that they have had the opportunity to witness to and how God is working in Veronica's son as well. They get him to read them the bible and God is using this to change him.
To God be the glory