Stories from Lar Feliz

Mara

When she came to us, she was a very thin withdrawn girl who wore scanty looking clothes.  She has a striking resemblance, many say to Angelina Jolie, olive colored skin with dark sea green eyes.  She did not look happy to be with us and rarely wanted to participate in even the most entertaining activities at Lar Feliz.  Slowly, we tried to find what interested her, hairstyling and makeup were some of the few things she liked to talk about.   We learned more about her background.  She never had a father.  She is the oldest of  four small children whom she cared for as her mother is an addict.   At one time, we learned about a terrible experience that she went through.  Her mother was pregnant with twins and miscarried the babies, later she asked Mara to dispose of them in the trash.

At first, Mara had interest in a homosexual relationship.  Later, she regretted this and terminated the friendship with this other girl.  She began attending church with the other children of the project.  At one service, she came forward and dedicated her life to Jesus Christ.  We began to see changes in her life.  Her smile traveled from her heart and into her eyes.  She diligently studied in school, and one day a large cell phone company located nearby offered office positions to girls at the project.  Mara took the job and worked responsibly there while going to night school to finish her basic education.  She met a kind young man who went with her to church and also gave his heart to Christ at the altar one service.  They are dating, but they have rules and regulations that Pastor Paul, a father figure to Mara enforces.  They are happy and excited about their future in Christ.  Many evenings they worship together in church.

Can the direction of a young life be changed?   Here at Lar Feliz, we give God the glory for His life changing power.