A Fight For Survival…A TRUE Story of Hope!

When I first arrived in Colombia, we were told there was a crisis happening in Venezuela and people were fleeing.  Since Colombia is Venezuela’s neighbor, it is a huge destination for Venezuelans and I have met a lot of them and heard many stories.  When I traveled to Ecuador, I also saw the effects of the crisis—every time we would leave the bus station there would be Venezuelans there trying to sell their money, begging for food, and desiring help…  While in Peru, I heard more stories…

If you are like me, I had no idea about anything that was going on. 

But this situation became real to me when I befriended a family in Peru.  I worked with Carina in the classroom during ministry and Junior was our on-call taxi driver.  Neither one of them speak much English and I don’t speak much Spanish either.  So, when I was riding with teammates that could speak Spanish pretty fluently, we had meaningful conversations.  One night, it turned into learning a past of joy and of hurt… Of a love for the country of Venezuela but also the sadness and struggle to survive.

Every time I was in the taxi with Junior, I felt drawn to him and also a need to pray for him.  As I became closer to each of them, I learned more and more about their struggle to make it to Peru, leaving loved ones behind, and trying to start a new future for themselves and their children.  God knew Junior and his family needed prayer, someone to listen to their story, and someone to share with the world what is happening right in front of our eyes.

With their permission, I’m going to give you a glimpse into their lives over the past few years.  Together, they share a beautiful testimony of God’s grace, mercy, hope, love, and answer to prayers.  

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We both grew up in Venezuela along with our families.  Some of our favorite memories are the food, the oceans that are deep blue, the sandy, white beaches that everyone loves to vacation at, and the kids gathering in the streets to play in rain.  Life was so good. 

Then it all started going downhill.  The economy crashed.  It was hard to find food for the family.  There was no medicine.  Every day became a struggle to survive. 

On November 4, 2017 I decided that I needed to leave my wife and three children in Venezuela to find a better future for them.  It was becoming too difficult to live and provide for myself yet alone my family.  The economy of Venezuela had deteriorated tremendously.  What I was earning in a month, was really only enough for a good meal a few times during that entire month.

On top of that, I lost my job and there were times where I could not provide for my family at all.  There were also times where if they ate, I didn’t because we just did not have enough. The situation was so difficult. 

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34 

I had a car, but I decided to sell it so I could buy a one-way bus ticket to Peru.  It was so important that I keep my family alive. But it was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.  Not only did I have to leave my wife behind, but three children under the age of 5.

I spent a year by myself with the kids.  Each day I prayed for Junior.  For strength. For wisdom.  For money to come in quickly so we could be reunited. 

I have never been separated from my wife and kids for any amount of time before.   I made this decision hoping that God would provide.  I could not leave them money because it all went to buying the ticket—the ticket that I hoped would eventually bring our family freedom from the poverty and hardship we were facing in Venezuela.

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:76  

I arrived in Peru on the 11^th of November with nothing besides the belief that God had prepared something extraordinary for me.  I did not have a place to sleep.  For several weeks I slept on cardboard on the ground, hoping the cold would not creep in and chill my body. 

2017 was the first time I spent Christmas without my family…without my kids.  It was the beginning to a lot of lonely nights.  There were countless nights where I cried like a child because at the time, hopelessness ruled my life.  I stopped believing in my dreams and stopped believing in everything that I thought I ever wanted.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me … Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-4,6

I continued to study and work while my children went to nursery school.  There was no time to focus on the fact that I was alone.

Every day was difficult.  Not only was being alone and earning money physically hard, but also emotionally and spiritually.  It was a mental game and there were often days where I would lose all hope and think that I would never be reunited with my family.      

“God is with you – wherever you may go and no matter what life brings.” Joshua 1:9

For a year, I worked to earn money to buy Carina and the kids bus tickets to leave the famine and poverty in Venezuela.  I started to work as a taxi driver in Peru because most other employers would hire Venezuelans and then not pay us for our work.  The fact of being a Venezuelan and living in Peru is synonymous with that they can abuse us.  By driving taxi, that does not happen. 

When Junior was able to get enough money to me, we picked up and left everything we had ever known and left Venezuela.  It was so difficult to leave my parents, grandparents, and sister, but even more difficult for the kids to leave their friends and family without understanding we may never see them again. 

“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25

We only brought a small bag of food.  I prayed to God before we left for help.  I told him… “Without you, I am nothing.”  God did not disappoint. 

It was a six-day bus ride with me and the three kids.  God kept putting people in our path to help us each and every day.  Random strangers would buy us meals and give us food.   He provided! 

“Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” Psalm 86:17

Words could not describe my excitement to hold my wife and kids in my arms, to be reunited.  It had been a long, difficult year without them.  But God provided.  When I look back, even in the most difficult moments, God never left me alone.  He was always right there by my side.

I didn’t always know Christ as my Lord and Savior.  At 15, I heard about him and then at 19 I surrendered my life to him.  There is no way I would be where I am today without him. 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46

I continue to drive taxi to provide for my family.  It’s still difficult.  We left everything behind in Venezuela.  It’s hard to start your life all over with nothing besides the clothes on your back and a suitcase, especially with three children. 

When I first arrived in Peru, I started selling caramel candy in the streets to help Junior.  I could see that he had worked so hard.  He was tired. 

God has been good to me and my family through all of this.  He continues to provide.  He continues to give me hope that I can achieve my dreams and desires. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

I was doing this for about a month and then God provided another opportunity for me.  I was asked to work at a school.  God knew I would do well in this field because I was a Special Education Teacher in Venezuela.      

My heart is still heavy for our families back in Venezuela.  They are literally dying of hunger every day.  The government is shutting off the electricity and it’s making it hard to keep in contact with anyone living there.  This makes me desperate and makes me want to achieve my dreams.

I firmly believe God has a purpose for Venezuela…even through its suffering.  I want to return and do mission work or some kind of work to help the children in poverty.  I want to start a school or an organization to give the children a reason to live and give them hope for a bright future.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith.” 1 John 5:4

I’ve always had a relationship with Christ.  If I didn’t, I don’t know how I would have made it through all of this, and still have hope for a future. 

“We learn how God is faithful through the trails that we go through.”  –Sarai (A lovely and godly woman who I met in Peru and was able to serve alongside in the classroom with Carina)

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Currently, both Junior’s and Carina’s extended families live in Venezuela.  From the time I started writing this blog (end of March) until now (I know…such a long time…but I wanted to give their story justice), conditions have worsened.  There is not safe drinking water, electricity is a hit or miss, people are dying in hospitals because of the rolling electrical outages, people are starving, their money would be put to better use to start a fire than buy anything, there is a huge lack of medicine…the list could go on and on. 

Junior is not only trying to provide for his family in Peru, but also their parents who still reside in Venezuela because they don’t have the means to leave.  Will you help me in praying for the people of Venezuela?  For Junior, Carina, their children, and their extended families? 

Junior’s work as a taxi driver is hard and often results in just meeting the needs for his family.  There are still times where he does not eat and is up all night to try to earn money to provide for his family.  He has a dream of coming to America to find work for 6 months so that he can continue to provide for his family.  To break the cycle of starvation and struggle.  Would you be willing to help this cause and make life easier for this family who has touched my heart so deeply.  If you feel led you can send money to my paypal account and I will make sure they receive it! PayPal.Me/kfahnestock     

  

Blessings!!!