This is the story of two families, for whom a group of people from another country have made their dreams a reality in just three days. It’s about a mother that hoped for 15 years that her children would sleep for the first time in a real bed. Also, about an 86 year old grandfather that slept for the first time under a solid roof in his own home. Stories like these are not made up nor made by someone’s imagination. They are true stories about dreams becoming a reality.
THE SOSA VITO FAMILY
Yanira received a piece of land from her family when she was still single. After getting married, the economic situation of her and her husband Víctor was very difficult. He had been working a lot for very little pay. And for them it was difficult for construct a better house than the one they were living in. It was made of old boards, rusty sheets and some pieces of canvas.
Four weeks ago we went with a local pastor to interview 6 families so we could select 2 that our friends from Defender Direct would build for. Yanira told us that one rainy night she was praying that God would give her a house while she was caring for her sick child. The next day a pastor with two foreign girls (Danae & Adrienne) and a Mexican (Daniel) arrived at her door. We told them that we were only giving an interview and that it did not mean that they were going to receive a home. But while we spoke with her, our hearts were racing because we knew that God had selected this family before we even went to their house. A few days later we return to confirm with them that they had been selected and that they had to tear down their old house soon… Víctor and Yanira just smiled. It seemed that their dream to have a home was going to become a reality very soon. Three days later we went again and their old house was already gone. It was just a piece of land ready for the new house to be built on. A few weeks later we were there to build and in just three days the Sosa Vita family received the keys to their new home. It is a home that was built with love, passion and strength. For the first time their 5 children slept in a real bed.
THE GWANG MICHELL FAMILY
María had been a very quiet woman when we first met her, but the moment she received the news that she was going to receive a home she began to laugh with joy. Trusting God, she also tore down her house as well as the house her parents were living in so they could all live together. In the days of the construction, the grandfather never stopped giving God thanks for the miracle. Their neighbors also celebrated with them while the team raised the walls under the Caribbean rain.
The grandfather had never had a house with a real roof, and in his old age of 86 years, one was build for his family in only three days. Daniela and her little sister María finally had a home with their mother and grandparents. And María… she has simply not stopped smiling since then!!!
We left with the words of gratitude still in our hearts that Daniela Gwang shared the moment she received her home: “THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS COUNTRY AND MAKING OUR DREAM A REALITY.”
We thank God for our friends from Defender Direct who have done what was impossible for these two families, and who have made a difference in the DESTINY of each one of them.