Global Missions
Everth Lara's Testimony
“For the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
First, I give thanks to God for being able to share a little of the missionary work which my husband, Adalberto Lara, and I have developed in Quebec among the Attikamek tribe on the reservation of Manawan. About 12 years ago we felt a calling to serve and work in Canada among the Native groups. We were praying during all that time that God confirm His Will and use us in His Missionary Work.
Manawan is a village in the mountain, isolated and marginalized by society. The people are visibly untrusting, withdrawn, and reticent to speak-especially about their personal and family problems-even among themselves. For many years there has been drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic violence (physical and psychological) and suicide.
Their main religion is animism mixed with Catholicism. And I can say with assurance that since we arrived 5 years ago it has been possible to teach them that YES, THERE IS A TRUE REASON TO LIVE.
Each Saturday we travel 6 hours going and coming on difficult roads according to the season of the year. We pass through snow, ice, dirt road, heavy downpours, and landslides.
In a home that God chose which belongs to Jean Pierre and Margarette Ottawa (the first Christians) we celebrate services where we sing, pray and give thanks to God through testimonies, and the Bible is taught.
Among the children we noted the lack of love. There is malnutrition, lack of orientation, lack of cleanliness, and insecurity. There are also many sick without adequate medical attention. The nearest hospital or clinic is 3 hours away and many times when they request appointments, it takes a long time before they receive a response.
In the same manner, the adolescent women and adults suffer from violence, rape, and incest in several cases. Couples shack up and simply have children out of wedlock. There is a “machismo” attitude.
In facing these great problems I have felt that God has used me to be able to help them and present to them the Word of God. In this way they can experience the Love of Christ Jesus filling their emptiness and loneliness in which they find themselves.
How do I do it? I teach the Bible to the children telling them Bible stories. Many still don’t know how to speak French because of their youth and they help me translate the stories into their language Attikamek: grandmother Margarette, Aunt Francine, or a child of 11, Brandon.
We do competitions and give small prizes for learning verses or to who best understands the story for that day. And they all put forth their best effort. No one leaves without having received a prize as a stimulus.
At this time more doors have been opened and confidence gained among several Attikamek families. We have had opportunity to visit the sick in their homes and also in the General Hospital of the City of Joliette. There we pray and read a passage of the Bible and have a good opportunity to present to them the Message of Salvation, and God, through His Holy Spirit, convinces them and several more have believed in Jesus Christ and have received Him as the Lord and Savior of their lives.
I’m reminded of Marcel, a 70 year old Attikamek, very ill, whose wife asked us to visit him in the hospital. The first time we went he was sleeping and an Attikamek social worker woman named Margarite was caring for him. When my husband began praying for Marcel he woke up and heard the prayer. The Bible was ministered to him in French but with the help of Margarite it was translated to him in Attikamek. At the end he recognized his sins, asked forgiveness of God and made a profession of Faith in Christ.
In the same manner Margarite expressed to us: “I have many things kept in my heart that I can’t get out.” At that moment I approached her and asked her if she wanted me to pray for her and with tears in her eyes she asked me to. It was a very special time in which God worked in her heart. She shed many tears and cried out to God for forgiveness of her sins accepting Christ as her Savior and Lord. After this she appeared very happy and in peace.
But we were immediately surprised because another man, Fernand, a sick Quebecois in another bed who had heard us exclaimed, “Pray for me like you did with them!!!”
My work has also been in MUSIC. I’m convinced that God uses me with singing and the teaching that comes through it. I always sing to them and explain what the song says and in this way they can understand what it says and that they should do it with their hearts. Now they are singing praises to God. Joyfully!
Many time I receive phone calls from needy women who are seeking whom they can talk to, listen to them, and receive orientation that can help them find the best solution to their problems; and I do this with much joy, praying for them and always sharing with them the Bible, God’s Word because in it we find the best answers to each need and petition.
In each meeting in Manawan we share together the food that we have previously prepared. Before, there was disorder but now the children have learned to wait so that we can all eat together, praying, and giving thanks to God for His provision and many times Grandfather Jean Pierre prays in Attikamek.
There is a little girl named Elizabeth who during the first times we knew her would always say: “Give me money!” and we didn’t give it to her. Nevertheless, on one occasion I asked her if she would prefer food and she silently looked at me and said: “Yes, give me food,” and I gave it to her with a big hug. I want you to know that Elizabeth needed to be noticed and loved and now God has transformed her because she can laugh and give thanks. With certain frequency she also approaches me and offers me a little gift, very simple, but with much love she gives it to me. I give her a hug and tell her that I love her and that Jesus loves her.
On this journey we see how God multiplies because we can share with these little ones gifts of $1 Dollar or a small cake for a birthday and each one of them knows that this is a special day in their lives and that they can always remember it. And we pray singing “Jesus Loves Me”.
Also during the last 2 years we began working with Latin Americans in the city where we live and we have weekly meetings with a small group. Two have been baptized! There is much more to be done!
I thank God for His immense Love and because in this journey He has supplied everything through our donors, with their prayers, material and spiritual support. I also thank God for my husband and because we can serve together in this missionary ministry and experience the love of these villages so many times forgotten by the world but never by Our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:12)
I thank Him because I can serve with my hands, my feet, my mouth, all in humility, persevering, trusting and everything put at the service of my Lord Jesus Christ.
EVERTH LARA, Missionary
Everth and her husband, Adalberto, serve as Calvary Missionaries with United Indian Mission in Quebec, Canada.