The Women of Las Brisas - Love is a Gateway to the Hearts of Many

On our second full day here in Choluteca, we got to start work on the home we are building for Anna. Anna is a sweet, smiling, and caring woman of the Las Brisas riverside community. In prior years when we were working on other people's homes, she didn't glare in jealously from a distance covering the blessings of another and gossip about the church and selection process. Instead she welcomed us Americans with open arms and smiles. She even gave small craft gifts to the ladies and braided their hair.

I am so happy that we get to be a part of this blessing for Anna. The church needs women like her in this community.  That became evident earlier in the morning when we attended the church small group. Though led by our good man, Noel, the whole group were women and children.  No men. Some were in the distance watching. Many may have been absent working or fishing for food.  Yet at church service, I recall seeing couples together. 

This visual image of 20 or so women and countless children helped me understand the dynamics of this community better. These women are the gateway of faith into the community. They are so full of love, love for their children and others, which makes them receptive to hearing God's word.  Even if a household may be a patriarchal one, the man and the woman are codependent in God's design.  “But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:11-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Support and bless a loving and godly woman, and other women will take notice.  When the women of a community take notice and learn similar behaviors, the men's attention will be acquired and they will pay attention and learn themselves. You ever hear the expression,"you make me want to be a better man"? Seems cliche, but it is so true how this works. Men and women are codependent and can be catalysts for each others' faith. 

The Word gives women good instruction  on how to lead each other, “Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:3-5, 11-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So this isn't just a house we are building.  The concrete and cement blocks that we set today aren't  just creating a foundation for a house. The project itself is a seed planted among the women of Las Brisas. We are lifting Anna up in a journey of not only her own faith, but we pray that she in her faith may be a beacon to other women in the community and open many more household to the Word of God. 

I look forward to helping this house take shape and maybe in the process meeting some of the men of Las Brisas and connect with them the way men do, through labored hands, respect and honor. 

God Bless 

Aaron Mason