A Tale of Two Marias

We had 2 visitors in the past 2 days.. both named Maria. The first Maria grew up in this home and her mother owns it. She had brought over 2 of her mother’s old goose down feather pillows to recover. It is such a messy job she decided to come here to the farmhouse to the little cement room out back. When she was a little girl she and the other children had the job of plucking the geese for stuffing in that very cement room. Maria told us that it takes approximately 15 geese to make one pillow! Maria showed the boys and I how she made sure to double stitch each seam with a very small straight stitch so that the feathers didn’t stick through the seam and poke through. She proudly spoke of how Mother had made each adult child 2 pillows for a wedding gift. It was a time consuming and messy labor of love. The elderly 84 year old grandmother's pillowcases were old and worn but now have been restuffed with the feathers complete with lovely bright white cotton pillowcases.. What a sweet circle of events~ It was a very sweet lesson and afternoon.


Grant observing Maria restuffing the pillows



Taking the feathers out of the old cases


The finished product!




The second Maria has been the maid to the owner of this home, 84 year old Anna. Maria comes every Tuesday still just as she has done for Mrs. T for 15 years. We thought that we could sacrifice the $15 per week in order to gain a little help on the laundry and to continue providing the earnings for Maria and her family. Yesterday, Amanda, Laura and I had the opportunity to drive her home in a downpour. Home to Maria is a small neighboring village. As we drove along in our van, it was apparent when the road switched from those maintained by Spanish Lookout. I was a bit concerned that the van would not make the trip! Washed out roads, potholes galore and having to make my way through streams which had taken over the road in places. We finally made our way to her house. Like many third world homes, it mainly consists of a large palm and vegatation covered porch where most of their living takes place. The porch had their kitchen table as well as their kitchen with an outdoor raised cooking pit. They graciously bade us to sit down and visit a while. Chickens ran everywhere.. I was so wishing I had taken my camera as it was just such a picuresqe home. Maria's father had a stroke last year and just sits on the covered porch while Maria's mother does all of the housework. Maria is in her thirties and has a 5 year old daughter but the father is not in the picture. I realized that the $15 US per day that Maria makes M-F is what this family lives on. They have so little in comparison to what we are used to and yet they are loving and warm beyond what we are accustomed to. Please pray for Maria and her sweet little family. I hope that we are able to come back to her place for another visit and next time bring my camera and the whole family.








While both Marias have very different backgrounds and families, both are such delighful ladies. Please keep both Marias in your prayers.