The past two weeks, I have been able to accompany Noel to a women's shelter, Hogar de Maria, or the Home of Maria. It is government-run and has a social worker, a psychologist, a lawyer, and administrator on staff there. They take in women, brought by the police, providing them food, shelter, and temporary safe-haven. It's a short walk from our apartment, so Noah and I got to come along last week and today. The old, colonial building looks pretty nice on the outside, and the public area, with the chapel and offices is clean and rather welcoming. Once passing through to the living quarters, however, I was amazed to see how people were living. The building has taken quite a beating from previous earthquakes and I'm not sure how much has been done to repair it. There was scaffolding up in one area. The common area is split down the center with a cutain dividing the living space from the sleeping area. There are five bunk beds and one normal twin bed. Last week, there were 5 women and 7 children; barely enough space for them all to sleep. The oldest child might have been 6 or 7 and the youngest was 11 days old. Can you imagine getting all of those children to sleep in such tight quarters? During our visit, the children ran around, undisciplined, with very few toys and little else to do. It was very dirty. The tile floor seemed to have a sticky layer of dirt and crumbs. As Noah played, this was a time I was praying he wouldn't put his hands in his mouth.
I met one woman there, Elsa, who had six children. The three youngest were with her and the older three were with her mother. She had the little girl that was just 11 days old. As Noel talked with her, it was clear to see she was exhausted and overwhelmed. I'm not sure what situation it was that brought her to the shelter, but likely some form of abuse.
This week, we met a young lady, who had just turned 17 and had a 2-month-old baby girl. She herself was an orphan from Puno (town near Lake Titicaca, about 6 hrs away by bus). She came here to work and was never paid her wages. Now she has a baby and no family to help her.
Noel has told me many other hardships of the women she has met there - one who fled her home with her 3-year-old daughter after her spouse punched the little girl in the eye, saying he wished she had been a boy.
According to Noel, these women don't often stay longer than a couple weeks. Once their case is heard in court, they may be assigned to live with a nearby relative, to work if their situation allows it, to live in a convent to be cared for by the nuns, or in some cases to return to their spouse if he has repented and promises not to hurt them again....These stories bring tears to my eyes - hearing how people, children, do not have safe and loving homes. Being a mother now, I feel like my heart is more easily broken by these testimonies.
The purpose behind Noel's visits is to listen to their stories and demonstrate love to them. She shares with them a Love that will never fail them and a Savior who cries with them when they are hurt. Who better, than Jesus, could understand such pain? I realize how incredibly blessed I am to have such a loving husband and family. How this inspires me to learn Spanish, so that I too can be a listening ear and an encouragement to these women. I know, however, that bringing sweet Noah, brings many smiles to their faces. "Que lindo!" (How cute!) they say, as he plays with the other children, rolling balls, and sorting puzzle pieces. Other ladies from the church here come sometimes too. When there are many children, one might take them out to play so that Noel can get an undistracted chance to talk and pray with the ladies.
Indeed the needs are great, however,
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
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