In Jubilee, a community rooted in the faith and love of Christ, stories of hope flourish even in the darkest moments. In this blog, I want to share two inspiring testimonies of two young students from our school who have found comfort and strength in the light of faith despite adversity. They are both part of the PreK program.

 

Yesterday we visited Sofia Lagos in her classroom. Sofia is a sweet girl of just 4 years old. She lives with her mother, who works tirelessly to support the family. She is a single mom and she can only spend a couple of hours a day with her daughter, which leaves a very big gap in Sofia, who needs a consistent maternal figure. Mornings are often difficult for Sofia, as her mother’s absence plunges her into a small emotional crisis. But, as Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It is for this reason that every day we have devotionals in the classrooms, these moments of intimacy with God help Sofia greatly, as they allow her to experience Jesus’ inexhaustible love. Sofia’s teacher is Ms. Norma, who tells us, “With a calm heart after prayer, Sofia finds the strength to enjoy the day.” As time goes by, her attitude begins to change. Although at the beginning of the year she cried a lot, God’s strength has transformed her attitude. After school is done, Sofia spends the rest of the day with some church sisters who have become a network of female support for her. Together, they enjoy moments of play and laughter, and the sisters take care of her and love her as if she were their own daughter.” Jesus heals the wounds of all those who seek His presence; we must continue to pray for Sofia and her family.

 

 

 

Johan Jacob, another brave student of Jubilee, has lived a story of struggle from an early age. Three years ago, he had to flee with his mother due to a threat of danger. But, as Psalm 34:17 reminds us, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” Johan was rescued by his grandmother (who works at Jubilee as a teacher assistant in 1st grade). She became a pillar of support for them. Although, still today, his mother is still missing, Johan finds comfort in the love and care of his family. His grandmother tells us with tears in her eyes how hard this situation is, in her words, “As his grandmother, I always tried to be there for them, even though our video calls never revealed the true situation they were in. It was only when someone alerted me that they were asking for money at a traffic light that I understood the gravity of the situation. I ran to rescue them, and since then, Johan and his brother have been under my care. I fondly remember one occasion when Johan said to his uncle: ‘You are my hero’, referring to the support and care he received during those difficult days.”

 

These stories, dear brothers and sisters of Jubilee, are living testimonies of the grace and mercy of our Lord. Through prayer, the support of the community, and the love of the family, Sofia and Johan find hope and comfort in the midst of adversity. May their testimonies inspire us to be lights of hope and love, bringing the light of Christ to those facing difficulties in their own lives. In Matthew 28:19-20 we find, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” At Jubilee, our way of fulfilling this mandate is by reaching the lives of these children. 

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