In Medical Ambassadors International (MAI), the greatest transformation takes place at the cutting edge of our field partners and the communities they serve. These are the community heroes who make things happen. They are ordinary villagers with a special burden for their community. We often refer to them as the Person of Peace, and our CHE facilitators are always looking to find them, work with them and equip them. Some of these community heroes go on to lead movements of change, and God keeps that process energized to make it obvious to everyone that He is in charge and leading the transformational development movement. This month’s story is about one such woman, Constanca, who had a burden for her community and prayed for them. We shared this story several years ago, but much has happened since then.  You can access a digital flip book about Constanca’s journey that you can download entitled, Underneath the Avocado Tree.

Or Read it HERE:

Constanca finished her chores every morning and hurried to sit under the Avocado tree near her house, study her Bible, and pray diligently for the salvation of community in the valley below the hillock on which her house was built. The local government soon chose the highest point on the hillock to build a water tank and renamed the little settlement, Water Supply.

With this development came some unexpected changes. New people, including criminals and other anti-social elements, moved in. The quiet neighborhood that Constanca had loved so much soon transformed into a noisy place with drunken revelry and brawls. The area was soon riddled with prostitution, gangs, drugs and broken relationships.  Constanca’s prayers were soon focused on her own little neighborhood, Water Supply. “Please send someone to help us Lord, to help these misguided young people and turn their eyes to You,” she prayed fervently. God answered her prayer in an amazing way.

Not far from Water Supply, a Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) team conducted a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training, teaching people how to deal with their problems using local resources. At the end of the training the trainees were challenged to reach out to new neighbors that they were unfamiliar with. God was drawing them to connect with Constanca so that He could answer her prayer and be instrumental in the transformation of the people living in her community.

CHE training and a CHE program began at Water Supply with a lot of it taking place under the Avocado tree. Change began and spread out through the area as people turned around and surrendered their lives to Jesus.  The neighborhood changed from one with drunken yelling and screaming to Bible study and worshiping groups. A makeshift church building, called Jesus Supply was built, and investment began on a proper permanent brick church building that could not only accommodate the people from Water Supply but also from the valley below. What Satan had turned to destruction and doom was turned around by God to make the whole community a testimony for His glory and honor!