Blind Mariquita

We have been visiting Mariquita, who is blind, each week
for many, many years. Although she does not have physical sight, she seems to
have been blessed with spiritual insight, and has often shared with us how she
can see heavenly angels. She has always been a woman of great faith, having
suffered much in life, yet always remaining cheerful and full of hope. She used
to live at the bottom of a hill, and one time during a week of heavy rain, we
went to see her and found her starting to shovel out piles of mud that had
washed down into her little house. While we looked around dismayed at the
horrific mess she was faced with, she was upbeat and thanking God for her
blessings. Soon afterwards we were able to build her a good house in a much
better location. Even though we would bring her groceries and companionship, we
were the ones who received more from her, encouraged and built up in our faith.

However age, sickness and the death of a son have taken
their toll on Mariquita. She has gotten quite frail and withdrawn, often
confined to bed and not talking much at all. It almost seems like she is just
waiting to die.

But during one of our weekly visits, a young mother brought
along her two daughters on the ministry — one of them a baby named Philomena.
When we arrived at the house, Mariquita was very quiet and subdued, not
interacting much. Then she heard Philomena babbling. The young mother asked
Mariquita if she wanted to hold the baby, and when she said yes, put Philomena
in her arms. Mariquita’s whole demeanor changed, her face lit up with a huge
smile, and we got a glimpse of the way she used to be. It gave all of us great
joy to see how much happiness this little baby brought to our dear friend.