Marybel, Week 1

'There's a car broken down on the side of the road just after we normally turn to go to church.  There's smoke coming from under the hood, and it's extremely cold this morning.... Can you stop to see if they are okay?'  This was the call I got from my wife, Sarah, on Sunday, January 23rd about 8:20am.

I could have slept 2 more hours I was so tired.  I had got up late and was running behind.  The service started at 8:15am.  It was 8:20am, and I hadn't left yet. 

"Are you okay?" I yelled out, after I pulled up behind the latino woman standing behind her vehicle.  "No!!" was the quick reply.  Within minutes, Marybel Tapia and her 16 year old son, Jose, were sitting in my truck, getting warm and sharing their story, as I assessed their situation.

At that moment, I had no idea what God was doing and how a random act of kindness was about to become a life-changing event for so many people, including me.

Marybel was praying aloud prior to my arrival during their 30 minutes in the chilly 26 degree air.  Jose was not surprised to hear these prayers from him mom.  He had heard them many times before.  Marybel looked in his eyes and said, "Don't you worry, son.  God is going to send an angel!"  A few minutes later, Jose turned to see my pearl white Cadillac Escalade EXT pulling up behind them.   
Marybel had only had $80, and was 2.5 hours from home, with no real family or close friends in a position to help them.  Therefore, I volunteered to pay for the towing and drive them to Panera Bread until I could figure out what to do next.  After Panera graciously paid for their food, she told me I was "the angel she was praying for!"  Quite humbled, I quickly confessed the truth!  "I am the type of person who would see someone like you on the side of the road, think to myself, 'Too bad for them!' and then drive on." ... Thankfully, I married my opposite!  I expalined, "Sarah is the angel. I was just following her orders!" 

Well, it's a week later, as I make this first post.  After hearing the whole story of Marybel Tapia, I now know who the real angel is! It's not Sarah, me, or anyone else who has offered a helping hand in this story.  I'm convinced the angel is Marybel, disguised as a latino woman going through a personal crisis.

I hope you will be blessed reading this blog, and if you'd like to get involved by helping this family, you can email me at pfsdean@gmail.com ...  But I warn you in advance:  What you think may be just your small act of kindness for someone else might turn out to be a much bigger blessing for you.

Any original doubts I had that God had a reason for sending this bright, articulate latino woman to break down in front of our church are completely gone now.  This was supposed to happen, and was all part of God’s plan.

Here's what I've learned so far:

·    Marybel was born in Nicaragua.  Her mother was involved in witchcraft and gave birth to her at age 16.  Her father was a Christian with 4 other boys from a previous marriage.  His previous wife deserted her 4 boys and him when she got an opportunity to go to America. 

·    Marybel’s father wanted a wife to help him raise his boys.  However, due to such a courtship, he was unaware that his new bride was involved in witchcraft.
·    When Marybel’s mom was pregnant with her, she sought after aborting her, but God’s grace prevailed.

·    Marybel attended a private Christian school due to her dad’s influence, but her mom would hit her and pull out chunks of her hair each time she came home from school and spoke about Jesus.

·    Marybel’s father was later killed by militia in Guatemala when he went there on a mission trip, leaving his 4 boys without a mother or father.  One of those boys is in prison today with a life sentence, 1 continues to use drugs and lives in DC, and 1 is very successful in business in Miami, but refuses to help Marybel.

·    Marybel got to the U.S. at age 13, and was pregnant at 16 with Jose.  She is 33 today.

·    Her mom is here in Virginia too, and still involved in witchcraft, alcohol, and some drug use.  She laughs at Marybel when she discusses her faith in God.

·    At age 19, she began attending a Pentacostal church, along with her then 3 year old son, Jose. There, she met a 33 year old man, named Ever Velasquez from El Salvador.  Ever played the piano at that church, and asked Marybel to work for him as an administrative assistant.  They soon fell in love, and even the pastor told Marybel he believed they were made for each other.  

·    Unfortunately, they did not marry.  Ever refused to marry her because he believed he was too old for her.  In the next 3 years, they had 2 children together:  Samuel (now 10) and Genesis (now 7).  (They are both beautiful, super well-behaved children!!)

·    The reason the girl’s name is Genesis is because she marks a new beginning in Marybel’s life.  In 2004, soon after having Genesis, Marybel fasted for 4 days.  She was convicted about living with Ever without being married, and left him.  She was determined to make God first in her life.  The following week, she found Ever with another woman.  This broke her heart even more.

·    Since 2004, Marybel has lived in Arlington, while Ever has lived in Woodbridge.  Marybel has worked a few different jobs and has continued to do some administrative work for Ever.

·    Both Marybel and Ever LOVE their children very much.  Ever has done has provided financial support to Marybel since she left, but the past 6 months Ever’s business has been struggling, making it more difficult to provide financially.

·    To make things worse, Ever has had heart trouble and has to go to El Salvador every 6-12 months for treatment. In December, he was very sick, but didn’t have the money to go El Salvador this time.  Ever’s cousin paid for the trip, because he knew that if Ever dies, it would also mean financial disaster for Marybel and her 3 children.

·    Upon Ever’s return on January 9, he was taken into custody by the INS at Dulles airport.  They question his legality, although he holds a green card.  It’s possible there were some errors in paperwork, but he will not be released until it’s all cleared up.

·    They moved him from the prison in Stafford to Farmville on January 22, which is when he was first able to call Marybel  since January 8 to let him know where he was. 

·    That Sunday, January 23, Marybel was traveling with Jose to see Ever in Farmville.  She was fearful to bring the 2 little ones to see their dad in prison.

·    While they sat at Panera Bread, I then drove to Parkway and asked our class to help pitch in.  The class donated about $135, along with a blank check from 1 person who wanted to help more. 

·    Merchant’s Tire then informed me that the engine was blown.  Their car had 287,000 miles on it, and was not worth repairing.

·    We let Marybel use one our vehicles to finish her trip to Farmville to see Ever.

·    Jim Seay from Automotive Concepts, nearby, offered to sell a 1987 Plymouth Sundance with 112,000 miles on it for $1,500.  He had originally been trying to sell it for $2,000.

·    We were able to sell her old vehicle for $300 to a junkyard, and the person who gave a blank check agreed to $300.  This meant we needed to raise $900 more, and quickly that was covered.

·    Unfortunately, the vehicle had some issues.  For example, the heater and windshield wipers didn’t work.

·    During the week, I was able to get an interview for her with our company, Primerica, in D.C.  They LOVED her there, and she is now fired up about getting licensed in financial services.  She believes, in time, she can make the money she needs in this business to support her family.  This is NOT a job.  It will take a couple months of licensing and training part time, but several of us believe she will do extremely well.  Already, she has people in the retirement community (this is where she works for $12 per hour) telling her they will move their investments to her once she is licensed.  That is amazing, in itself.

·    Friday, Jan 28, Marybel returned to our home with her 2 younger children.  Jose stayed home with pneumonia.  Jose did not want to go to his grandmother’s because he senses evil in her house. 

·    I got to speak briefly with Ever that Friday night on the phone.  He was very passionate and emotional.  He had been sharing his testmony about how God was taking care of his family, and he just led a Hindu to Jesus after leading a worship service at the prison.

·    Evidently, several people have come to know Christ this past week through Ever’s testimony, including the Hindu man today from India. 

·    It appers God is working on Ever’s heart.  He’s certainly a Christian who loves God, but has probably struggled in his faith over the years.  He has recently admitted he has been very, very stubborn, and now wants to truly surrender his heart and life to Christ.

·   I must say that I’m in culture shock as I listen to so many of the details of the world that Marybel lives.  She has attempted suicide a few times, but has never done drugs, alcohol, etc.

·    Saturday, Jan 29, Marybel took Samuel and Genesis to see Ever.  They were very excited to see their father, but had to wait 4 hours!