Ezekiel 37 Project Part 2: Francisco

This is a continuation of the post: Ezekiel 37 Project. 

In May of this year, we began the renovation and work on the abandoned property with the arena. We had the opportunity to work with, visit with and pray with Los Santos (the men who struggle with alcoholism there) regularly. One of the men, Francisco approached Jeremy one day and said he would like to become a missionary. Francisco was intoxicated. He was dressed in dirty clothes as he had been homeless and sleeping outside with minimal to no bathing. Jeremy looked into Francisco’s eyes and could see a good heart, a special child of God. Jeremy smiled and said “Great, the first thing we need to do is to pray.” He gave him a cross and a miraculous medal to wear. Francisco spoke with teary eyes of his desire to change his life and his desire to stop drinking. Jeremy told him his first mission would be here with Los Santos (the other men who struggle with alcoholism). Francisco’s friends witnessed this whole event, and Francisco told his friends that he was done drinking. A few days later, we were working on the property. Jeremy noticed Francisco was drinking with his friends. Francisco later asked Jeremy, “Todo bien amigo?” (“everything okay friend?”). Jeremy challenged Francisco saying no everything was not okay, he had said that he was committing not to drink anymore. Francisco looked at Jeremy and said it was only a little bit, and Jeremy responded that for him only a little bit was too much. 

Jeremy stayed the night with our older kids in a tent on the property that night to ensure our project materials were not stolen. In the middle of the night, Jeremy awoke to the cold night air and Jenny, our dog, aggressively barking. He saw Francisco hurriedly rising from a pile of dirt about 35 yards away; Jenny had noticed him there and alarmed us. The next morning Jeremy awoke and learned Francisco slept the night there in a dirt pile next to the tent to ensure Jeremy and our kids were safe.  Tears fill Jeremy's eyes when he remembers that event and just how much love and goodness is in Francisco's heart.   

Later that day, Francisco approached Jeremy again saying he was ready, really ready to stop drinking. Jeremy invited Francisco to our house for a hot shower and food. Francisco came and lived with us in the mission house for the next week. He spent a lot of time with our family, exercising in the morning and praying throughout the day. He spent a lot of time in the chapel with Jesus, and Jesus recklessly changed Francisco's life. It has now been four months since Francisco lived with us. He comes every Wednesday and Friday for prayer groups. He invites and brings his family with him and is often accompanied by his friends, the saints. He organized a prayer group on WhatsApp messenger. Francisco now has two disciples, T. and S., and has influenced many others.  We overheard him talking with a couple of others at a prayer group last week, and they were in disbelief that he had been an alcoholic, homeless, and living at the arena only a few months before. God is Good!

Having coffee at the mission house after participating in Mass online this past summer.

Francisco’s story in his own (translated) words: My name is Francisco Tello Sánchez. I used to drink a lot until one day my brother Jeremías came to where I was drunk, thank God for sending me that angel who was praying for me. From that moment, my life changed. I told him that I I no longer want to be there, and he helped me a lot with his prayers and thanks to God I no longer drink. Now I read the Bible and pray. I feel very happy because now I see my family, and they are very proud of me because I no longer drink and very grateful to my brother Jeremías because he helped me get out of where I was lost in vice. Now, I just want to serve God and keep moving forward with His blessing.

God said He would make these dry bones come back to life, and we are watching His hand at work. It strengthens our faith to see these transformations that only God can bring. We are so grateful for our supporters who make it possible for us to live here witnessing these miracles and sharing the love and mercy of Jesus with each of His children especially the poor and the outcasts.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.  Matthew 18:12-14

With love in Christ,

Jeremy and Lisa