Silence Reigns in the Chapel

My wife and I met Maria Dalfo 10 years ago in Ecuador. She is now working as a volunteer in the hospital’s kitchen for the next 3 months. An hour ago she shared with a breathless audience a little about her life.

Maria was 4 years old when her parents died and her aunt sold her into slavery in Guayaquil, Ecuador. For years she suffered torment and abuse at the hands of her keepers, even sustaining serious head injuries several times. Finally she managed to escape and turned to prostitution as a means of supporting herself. Soon she became addicted to alcohol as well.

When her first child was born, Maria found herself longing for a chance to turn her life around. She found work as a maid with a family in Ambato where she helped in their restaurant. Unfortunately some patrons recognized her from her life in Guayaquil and demanded she be fired immediately. But the family Maria worked for were not so easily put off. They told her “God has helped us and now we want to show God’s love to everyone too!” Because of her traumatic life, Maria found herself disbelieving of the news. She found herself asking “How can there be a God? Didn’t He see me suffering? Where was He when I had to sell myself just to survive?”

Maria’s employers started taking her to their church services. Weeks passed by until one day Maria prayed “God, if you are there, then please take control of my life!” That was 39 years ago and now she can say “Jesus Christ has made my life completely new!”

As Maria recounted her amazing story during this morning’s devotions, 120 staff and patients hung on her every word. At the end of her speech there was spontaneous applause. There is hope for everyone – whether they live in Germany, Australia, USA or anywhere across the world. KDJ

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