Hammocks of Hope

When I picked up a hammock from Marie, she told me that it had been 7 months since her husband passed away. She shared with me that it hasn’t been easy and that she needed strength. Marie is a single mom of 2 small children and has become a maid at one of the hotels in town to be able to provide for them. We asked the Holy Spirit to come to her in strength and power that afternoon, and of course, He did! She knows that now she can draw on that Power each and every day! Did I say that, God is good?!

It’s amazing how the hammocks, the cooking, and the store, provide the reasons to visit certain people; at the same time, the doors opened for deeper purposes of our time together (time and time again)! And not just for them; for me to learn and receive too! While retrieving a hammock at Sabina’s casa (house), she really touched my heart! She came to me with a huipil (typical Mayan dress) in her hands. Making an assumption, I asked, “cuanto es” (how much)? “800 pesos” (about $75 USD) she said. “But, it’s a gift from me to you”, she continued. “BASH” (what – in Maya), I exclaimed! Her daughter then interpreted from Maya to Spanish, explaining that Sabina hand stitched the flowers on it herself and with all her heart she wanted me to have it. “PERO… pero” (but… but), I said with my hand over my heart as I looked back up at Sabina. Celestina continued to interpret that Sabina will never forget the time that I had prayed for the burn on her arm to be healed. She said that it hurt so much and then the next day it had new skin and was healed, thanks to Jesus and my prayer!! WOW… I’ve run out of words! I have a new Sunday dress to wear now ;)!!

Augustina was sitting by the door in the sunlight, reading her bible (the one that was given to her during one of our outreaches), when I arrived asking for her hammock. She showed me the bag of medicines that she’s been purchasing for some time now. The doctors obviously haven’t figured out what is really wrong. We prayed once again for healing, for doctors to come to the village on a regular basis, and for the Lord’s favor with the insurance program.

A restaurant in Playa Del Carmen will be displaying these hammocks under little palapas (thatch huts) that are surrounding a cenote (natural swimming pool in the jungle). Each hammock will come with a 5X7 photograph of the woman holding that very hammock that she made by hand. Taking these photos was half the fun for me! We have some natural models in the village!! Strike a pose ladies!! We hope and pray that when people find out that the purchase is to help these women to pay for medicine and their children’s school uniforms, that they will sell like hotcakes (or tortillas ☺)! We also hope that the hammocks can be sold at other locations in PDC.


Thanks for your prayers!

PS If you are interested in purchasing one of these beautiful hammocks contact elisa@thecause.org