Words from People JEM Donations Help
This letter to you is written mostly by people in Mexico who were invited to speak directly to you, our donors and people interested in Jubilee updates. Angelica Juarez Jimenez Swanson from the Jubilee Circle in San
Mateo speaks first. Recently, she’s been deeply involved in one chronic issue hurting lives there. Similar in-depth ministry is happening on so many other issues across the Circles of Jubilee.
Dear donors,
It is a great encouragement for us as the San Mateo Circle to know that what we do is backed by your spiritual and financial support.
As a medical doctor I was recently asked to treat a man at a rehabilitation center for alcoholics and drug addicts here in San Mateo who was suffering from withdrawal syndrome. I went and found a very desolate scene. Several men of different ages, thin, pale, tattooed, and intimidating—fourteen in total. I applied a medicine to the patient, prayed for him, and when I was about to leave, the leader of the place asked me to come on another day and give them a talk. He told me that in that place anyone with a motivational message was welcomed.
So a few days later, I went with other women and shared with them the parable of the prodigal son, which gives us a message of forgiveness and hope. I saw tears in the eyes of several as we prayed for them. We brought them food and spent time with them. They were very grateful and asked us to come back again. We promised to bring them Bibles. I had already bought them.
In a few days, we will return with a Bible for each one. Thank you for your support. Our wish for our community is to be transformed.
We also work with children to prevent them from one day falling into these addictions and have a different future. You are part of this!
Sincerely,
Angelica
A few days later, Angelica added the following:
Alcoholism is one of the most common problems in our community. Since most men work in construction, they receive their pay every Saturday, and the vast majority of them get together with their coworkers to drink all weekend. There’s a woman who comes to the Jubilee women’s Bible study group who has suffered from domestic violence for several years because her husband drank a lot of alcohol.
One day, this man, while intoxicated, got angry with his 15-year-old son and hit his head against the floor several times. The son was brought to my office late at night with a bleeding wound. Fortunately, there were no brain injuries. This time, his wife reacted bravely, left the house, and went to a government unit that supports families with these types of problems. They recommended that she report it to the police, but her children didn’t want to send their father to jail. When he saw he was losing his family, he stopped drinking, and after more than a couple of months, he looked for his family again. They are now attending church and receiving counseling.
He has shown repentance and asked forgiveness from his entire family. We pray that his change will be permanent.
Finally, Gloria Gonzalez wrote to us in the U.S. with pastoral concerns about what we currently face in our country. She appreciates that we donate despite difficulties:
Jubilee greetings as we enter Spring and holy days! My prayer is for you and for the donors, for it is worthy of recognition that you have contributed, despite the political and economic difficulties in your country, and have continued to support our ministerial circles in Mexico. This continues to be a great blessing, especially at this moment in history.
Gloria’s words conclude this letter. Your donations at this time are especially helpful because donations often decrease in the summer months. Giving to the many ministries of Jubilee is a positive action in the midst of many issues so big we often do not know what to do. Thanks for giving all you can.
The Mighty Presence of the Spirit be with us all.
This letter is a joint effort of Angelica Juarez Jimenez, Gloria Gonzalez, Lee Van Ham, John Michno, and Kyle Holberg.
P.S. Please talk with others about this opportunity for high-yield giving. Over 50% of the U.S. population gives nothing to charity. Some would love to give to a ministry that assures them that their donation makes a real difference.
