It’s really hard to find an accurate way to describe what all the Diaz family has been going through lately, so instead of trying to come up with a catchy title, we will just explain.

Oscar hasn’t been showing much effort until most recently in trying to work to help the family or work towards getting his scholarship back. We told him that we want to see a greater effort of being an obedient child and a contributing member of the family. In August he got a job working on a local farm harvesting tomatoes. One morning while preparing to go out, however, he collapsed with convulsions. They took him to a local doctor who said he was undernourished and dehydrated. Mixed with the hormonal changes in his body of going through puberty, this is what caused his body to react the way it did. We used this as an object lesson as to why we have been supplying them with daily vitamins (which they hadn’t been taking) and that when working for hours outside he needs to be drinking more clean water. Unfortunately, this meant he had to stop working, but he is doing better now and they are taking better care of themselves.

Additionally, Carmen has been having severe stomach issues. She also is now receiving treatment with the help of the ministry, although she is also working and is taking responsibility for some of the costs. It has taken her a few months to receive treatment because we had been waiting on her to get us the information we needed to purchase the prescribed medicines but she waited too long and had to have another consult with the doctor to get an accurate prescription because her symptoms worsened.

Carmen and Mirna still seem to be butting heads at times, to the point where Carmen would like to leave the house and go live with her boyfriend because she feels it would be a healthier situation than living with her mom. However, she also recognizes that living with her boyfriend could also result in consequences she is not willing to pay and wants to have a healthy relationship with him that honors God. So, for now, she is staying home and focusing on finishing her schooling so she can continue to work towards accomplishing her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Bread sales have decreased for Mirna as well as there are others in the neighborhood selling bread. A neighbor two doors down from them built a big storefront and has been attracting business of all kinds. Mirna and Carmen came up with the idea to sell other refrigerated items as well such as jello and frozen foods which has helped them a little bit.

On September 13th, Mirna’s mother passed away due to complications from COVID 19. This has been just another added stress on top of everything else. Please continue to pray for this family’s spiritual growth. Being the family furthest away from our team, it has become increasingly difficult to minister to them, however we are finding new ways to get to them on a regular basis in order to help them not feel alone and isolated.