In the Urdaneta sector of Catia, for eight years a meeting space has worked where elderly and homeless people meet to share bread, regardless of beliefs. The initiative, promoted by the International Apostolic Church, also offers barber and clothing donation.
Caracas. Carmen Escobar, 64, meets an unwavering routine every week. He gets up at dawn, dresses, combs and undertakes a walk from home, in La Guaira, to Circunvalación de Catia avenue. It crosses roads, dodges motorcycles and crosses the highway under the sound of cars bugles. No money for the passage, Walk more than 10 kilometers walking.
Despite the risks, Carmen feels protected. Her faith in God guides her towards her friends of the International Apostolic Church, where they receive it with prayers and A plate of food Hot to relieve hunger.
In the Urdaneta sector of Catia, a community dining room offers barber services, clothing donations and spiritual accompaniment For the most vulnerable. Older adults, people in street situations and students come, believers or not, to share bread or take refuge in the Word of God and overcome addictions.
Martín Castillo, member of the New Birth International Apostolic Ministry, explains that this initiative honors the mission of Jesus Christ: feed without distinctions. Although the Church He has been 35 years In the area, the dining room opened in 2017 to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. Today is a space of coexistence and citizen participation.
An aid without distinction
“We noticed the difficulty that many people had at that time to eat due to scarcity, so we start with this project and we have already doing the work like Jesus Christ,” he says.
Castillo says that since then they have not stopped. During the pandemic and low security protocols, the dining room came to receive 350 diners. Now they serve about 150 people, some are part of the community and others come from far, such as Carmen.
The task begins early and extends until after noon. More than 50 VOLUNTARIES They mobilize to clean the streets and put the tables to the side of the road. Another group carries the pots, the dishes and other belongings. Food preparation is a shared effort.
“Everyone contributes something, even if a rice, a flour or vegetables. Church members with knowledge in gastronomy cook food and a trained team distributes them,”Add Castillo.
German Ayala, 85 years old, is a pensioner and neighbor of the community. Its only monthly income is the largest love bonus, equivalent to 3,500 bolivars. He hardly reaches to feed because most of the money spends it on medicines. That is why for a year and a half, the dining room frequents every Tuesday.
“If the government gave me the help I need as an older adult giving me any source of employment I would not have to come, but I recognize that this is an excellent initiative because it benefits the community and food is excellent.”Ayala expresses
Castillo details that preparations are varied. Sometimes Minestrone, pavilion, meat paste, lentils or Chinese rice serve. In addition to the dining room, those who attend can also cut their hair free of charge in the weekly days or receive the teachings of the Gospel.
The Church opens its doors on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm and Sundays at 9:00 am and then at 11:30 am
Devotion that heals
Jorge Pérez, an electrician by profession, attended the Apostolic Church for the first time with the sole intention of taking advantage of the barbershop to cut his hair. However, he liked the attention that he received that He decided to return And now it is part of the congregation.
“A friend recommended it to me and I have been coming six months. Now I would like them to do it more frequently. It is a beautiful and done work with good will.”
Carlos Graterol, pastor of the International Apostolic Ministry, adds that in addition to offering a food dish they also receive Donations for clothing and medicine to deliver them to the most needy. Whoever wishes can approach the Church and collaborate.
“We receive food and analgesics. Many people do not even have for a pill and reach us asking for help. There is a palpable need in the community.”
The international apostolic ministry is a religious organization focused on spreading the Word of God through the teaching of the Gospel throughout the world. In Venezuela it has headquarters in Aragua, Táchira and Apure; And in Milwaukee, United States, accumulates a large group of followers.
Carmen says she is grateful to the religious organization of the Apostolic Ministry. There, in addition to eating at ease, too He cultivated friends and his Christian devotion crystallized.
“To love Christ, religion is not needed. Here we all meet no matter the age, origin or situation we are in. We are well treated and we are well treated, there is cordiality and we are under the blessing of God,” he said.
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