The telephone rang. It was Saturday, but Isabel’s husband had had to go to work. Neto was tired and sad. In his company, the owners were fighting amongst themselves. Relationships were being permanently broken. In a climate of fear and hate, Neto was trying to maintain his testimony while he dealt with treason and corruption, with the demands of his bosses, and with the insecurity of the employees.
But, now, Neto was thinking about something else.
– Tell me, ‘Bel. How did it go today? Was it like you expected?
– Ah, it was really marvelous. Naná’s homemade bread was a big success, and our banana and zucchini bread too. Mirtes made cornbread. We fit thirty people into the living room, not counting the kids. Even Mikako made it, with her family, and made the whole program lively with her humor and wit. Fabiana cried, I cried, everybody cried. Tears of joy, of course…
Neto laughed. –Did you get red?
– Hmmm… You’re the only one that thinks that’s cute! Of course I did! It was a big responsibility to properly finish off our “tower project.” The person that had to be glorified today was God and nobody else. At the same time, I wanted everyone to be able to visualize and feel the extent of the blessing that they had helped to bestow on our sister and her daughters.
– We missed you. I was just thinking and reflecting on how our experience today, in the midst of God’s people, contrasts with that which you have been going through in your job. Sacrifice instead of sabotage. Generosity in the place of greed. A true family!
Isabel continued telling him about the meeting that had taken place in their home. It had been the most recent phase of the project that they had been speaking of daily for the past two months.
At first, Isabel had no notion of the blessings that God would bring about as a result of her idea. It all started with a kind gesture by Fabiana, her daughter in the faith, that came to help out with the cleaning, once a week.
– Dona ‘Bel. Are you going to go anywhere after four o’clock?
– I don’t think so. Why?
– Then I am going to take care of your nails before I leave.
– Is that so?
– Yes, that’s so! And you are not going to pay me. It’s an early Christmas gift.
In Fabiana’s opinion, Dona ‘Bel needed to take better care of her appearance. So, while one pair of calloused and tired hands filed and painted the nails on the other pair, they talked.
– Tell me about the building of your house, Fabiana. When will it be finished?
– Ah, Dona “Bel. We’re not going to be able to finish. I’m going to let the builder go really soon, because I’ve run out of money. It looks like I didn’t calculate the cost of my “tower” properly.
– Really! That’s too bad! What do you still need to do?
Isabel listened carefully.
– It’s hardest for the girls. They were so excited. But I’m showing them how God helped us up to now. We have to trust that everything will happen at the right time.
Isabel felt ashamed. She wondered how she herself would have responded in a similar situation. When they said goodbye, she hugged Fabiana. – I’ll be praying for you, sister.
And she did pray. It occurred to her that they themselves might be able to help a little, and perhaps even make a loan. But it would not be enough. And she kept thinking, before the Lord.
– What if some other people would know of Fabiana’s situation? She’s reserved, she never complains, she always has something to thank the Lord for. Very few people in the church are aware of her struggles. But, Lord, she might think that I betrayed her trust. After all, she has her reasons for keeping her problems and even humiliations to herself. Still, I can’t ask for her permission either, because then I will give her hope. And I don’t even know if I really have the courage to tackle this. Besides, it’s December. Everyone is busy buying gifts. A lot of the people are going to travel. They are already reaching out to those that God has placed in their paths. They are going to say they can’t help. They might get even get upset and I’m going to have made myself vulnerable for nothing. Yes, Lord, I did say that! Vulnerable. I really am proud and cowardly. But I will talk to Neto about this and see what he thinks.
On the following Sunday, Isabel approached Elder Laerte and his wife, Suzete.
– Would you have a few minutes?
– Sure.
Isabel then shared the details of Fabiana’s life that they did not know. How, for example, her husband had abandoned the family and then sold their home, keeping all the money to himself. How her furniture had been stored on Neto and Isabel’s property for over a year, while she and her daughters aged 11 and 15 were sleeping in a single bed in her mother’s home. That Fabiana was cleaning houses from Monday through Friday and that, throughout these months, she had been saving every possible penny so that she would be able to build herself a new home.
– Her mother gave her a small portion of the plot of land that she lives on, on the side where the city just covered up the creek. It is really tiny. She drew up the plan, hired a mason and bought the materials. Then she found out why he was so cheap. He laid the foundations wrong! So tears were shed and she called in one of the other persons that she works for, who has a degree as an architect. Poor Mirtes looked but didn’t have a clue what to say. She didn’t have any experience in buildings of this type, on top of landfill. So then we called in deacon Anderson. He has already built on a similar terrain. So, in the end, they found a way to fix it and the building started again with a new bricklayer. The house is really tiny but it is THREE stories high! For that reason, we call it “Fabiana’s tower.” The problem is that she ran out of money before she finished and she hasn’t even put the roof on it yet.
To her surprise, Elder Laerte didn’t even blink. In his usual pondered way, he said. – Why don’t you ask her to make up an expense list for everything that is still missing. Then we can see how we can help.
So Isabel said to Fabiana. – Don’t fire the builder yet!
– Dona ‘Bel. What are you up to?
– I’m not even sure myself! But pray!
A few days later, Isabel sent an e-mail with a list of the main things that were still missing (roof tiles, windows, doors, water reservoir, toilet, sink, tiles…) together with the prices. The total of R$ 2.488,00 did not include pipes, meter, plugs, light fixtures… Nor paint. The reply came immediately. The amount for the floor and wall tiles, plus a loan to be paid off gradually, was deposited on Fabiana’s bank account.
Isabel kept on praying. There was only one Sunday morning left to make more contacts because they would be traveling to Recife that night. She printed the price list and the data of Fabiana’s bank account, together with her own e-mail address. And after Sunday School, she went to speak with other elders and their wives, as well as with someone for whom Fabiana had already worked. Everyone listened attentively and took the sheet home.
Throughout the following weeks, Isabel and Neto stayed in touch with São Paulo. Neto would spend hours on the phone with his bosses and writing complicated e-mails related to his job. Isabel used the same means to keep in touch with Fabiana and with her generous brothers and sisters in Christ. By phone, Fabiana would tell how the building was progressing and would share other blessings. A special friend in the church had given her several boxes of floor tiles. She had also found cheaper suppliers for some of the materials. By e-mail, Isabel would share her amazement at what was happening with those that God was inspiring to contribute. 200 for the roof tiles, 300 for the bath room, another 300, plus 250… Her sister sent 100 dollars from the USA. And the building continued… But it wasn’t finished yet…
Once back in São Paulo, Isabel found more people that knew Fabiana and shared with them what had been happening. Others came to talk to her. – We heard about the “tower project.” We want to participate too. A further 50, 70, 100, 200 came in, together with a food basket. A deacon paid for the paint. A friend sent a check through the mail. The architect loaned the last payment for the builder. Several that had given earlier, wanted to give again… Some that didn’t have much money put in the electricity and plumbing. A brother-in-law made the railing for the stairs. Someone paid for the city to take away the rubbish left from the building. Almost daily, while Fabiana worked to maintain her family and Isabel continued with her normal duties, God would reveal his power, inspiring the generosity and creativity of the brothers and sisters in Christ.
Finally, the day for the move arrived. A friend from church and some of Fabiana’s relatives got together with Gabriel, loading and unloading furniture and boxes, perspiring considerably to carry everything up one or two flights of stairs. – I feel like I’m in the middle of a dream, Fabiana told Gabriel when he said goodbye.
When she heard of the plans to have a thanksgiving service, Naná came up with an idea. – Since we are already involved, we could expand our project a little more and have a kind of kitchen shower for them.
Mikako got all excited. – ‘Bel. What else do they need inside the house?
And so another list went around and Fabiana was told to not buy anything to put inside the house.
– But Dona ‘Bel. It has to look nice for the people to come to it.
– No, it doesn’t. Trust me on this! And tell me right away what is the favorite color of each one of you.
And so, on a Saturday morning, almost all that had contributed to the building of the house found themselves in the home of Isabel and Neto. After eating brunch together, they sat down around a pile of presents. After hearing that a new bunk bed for the girls was still on its way, they unwrapped bedspreads, sheets, light fixtures, shelves, clocks and a bulletin board, as well as towels, curtains, wall hangings, a fan and other objects for the rest of the house.
With tears in her eyes, Fabiana thanked everyone. –This day reminds me of the story of Job. There were moments that I sort of felt like him. Except for the sores. I lost so much. Even my family, in a certain sense. But God is restoring each detail. At the end of the book, God gave Job double what he had before. And his friends came to visit him. Bringing gifts, like you are bringing today. Each one leaving a little piece of him or herself in my home.
– We even had ourselves a feast! Mikako observed.
Fabiana concluded – I am a very privileged person. Not only did Jesus come to take my place, but He put me in a family of very special brothers and sisters. I already have been praying for each one of you and I will keep on doing that—in an even more caring way. Pray for us too, so that our home may be a “tower” for the glory of God and not like the tower of Babel, bringing confusion to the world in which it was built!
Everyone got into their cars and went to see the new house, several streets down, where Fabiana’s relatives were waiting. Accompanied on the guitar by the pastor’s wife, they sang praises to God. Another pastor friend gave an evangelistic talk. They sang “Graças te Dou” and elder Laerte prayed. Everyone said goodbye, reluctantly. Fabiana, Lia and Jasmim had not been the only people that had been blessed. There, right in a poor part of the city, everyone had seen a little piece of heaven. Their liberality had resulted in enrichment. Their own and that of the kingdom of God. And it all began when a tiny lady, knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive, decided to make her day a little longer and GIVE a manicure to the person for whom she worked.
Published in the Presbyterian Ladies’ Magazine, SAF em Revista, 3rd Quarter, 2004
SUGGESTIONS FOR MEDITATION AND/OR ACTIVITIES
1. God speaks to us about brotherly love—the love between brothers and sisters, children of the Heavenly Father. Read the following portions of Scripture and have a group discussion about how these apply to the story of Fabiana and to the life of each one of us: 1 Thessalonians. 4.9-12; Romans 12.10-16; 1 Peter 4.8-10; Hebrews 13.1-5. What is the difference between brotherly love and welfare services?
2. If Fabiana had not been dedicated to working and caring for her family, should her brethren have helped her in this manner, or in another way? See 2 Thessalonians 3.8-12.
3. God used Elder Laerte, with his business experience. When he identified preparing a price list as something that was necessary, he guaranteed a general overview of the size of the project. He also made it so that each person could choose his part and then verify, upon visiting, how his brotherly “investment” had been applied. This, furthermore, made it possible for Isabel to give an account of what had been done. How important is this? Would it be possible to give an account of something that had not been planned and outlined?
4. If God grants Fabiana health, what is the probability of her needing help from the deacons in the future, since she knows how to work and how to save and now has guaranteed her place to live?