Don Clemente

A donation of First Aid Kits was given to Don Clemente
and his son and daughter-in-law.

                The first time we entered the community of “White Hill,” we met Don Clemente, his face shining with kindness and gentleness. He answered all of our questions and told us a little about himself. As we talked, he sent someone to buy some soda. Before we left, he loaded us up with peaches, a squash, and some corn from his fields.  As we drove away, it was obvious that we had found a man of peace.  Through the years, our focus was on “Pine Hill,” so we didn’t see Don Clemente often. But always when we stopped in to visit, he was kind and generous with both his time and the fruits from his fields.

               One night, our son got sick and we took him to see the doctor in the clinic. To this day, I believe God used our son’s illness to put us in the right place at the right time, because when we got there, the clinic was packed with people. Most of the conversation around us was in ZK, so we didn’t understand much at the time, but we did realize that there had been an accident of some kind. Clay decided to take a closer look and learned that it was Don Clemente who had fallen while out cutting firewood.

After the handrail was installed,
Don Clemente was able to leave his house!

               The terrain all around “White Hill” is steep hillsides. Don Clemente had slipped and he fell many feet down the side of the hill. (I can’t be sure, but I’m thinking it was 300 feet.) He had hit his head and twisted his back. He was paralyzed from the fall, which for many in this area is like a death sentence, but he refused to go the hospital.

               A few weeks later while we were in the city, we were introduced to a man who was a homeopathic chiropractor. He traveled all over Mexico, giving treatments. Surprisingly, he had been to “Pine Hill” before and he assured us he would come to help Don Clemente. For the next few months, this man came every other week. Little by little, Don Clemente began to regain his strength until he could walk on flat ground.

               A year ago, a mission team from Ohio helped put in a handrail outside of Don Clemente’s house to help him have more freedom. And last summer a mission team from Idaho helped us hold a VBS for the children in the community. Since the VBS we have been visiting Don Clemente every Tuesday. We sing praises with him and the children who gather, and we tell a Bible story.

               Yesterday, being Tuesday, we visited again. After the story, Clay and Don Clemente chatted for a bit. Don Clemente is trying to encourage his sons to study the Bible with him, which we are excited to see. Because of this reason, we have been asked to give them time as a family. To be honest, I’m not sure how to take it. We’ve been kindly asked not to keep coming to the house for Bible Study.

               So, we ask that you pray for Don Clemente and his sons. Don Clemente’s plan is for the family to read the Bible together for 10-15 minutes a day. Our prayer is that God will reveal Himself to this family through His Word!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17