A Legacy in the Making
November 2025
When Maria was just ten years old, she began walking one hour each way to attend school. For two years, she made that daily journey through the rugged hills of Paccarectambo, determined to learn. But her education was cut short when her parents told her she could no longer attend. The family needed her to tend the sheep.
The years that followed brought even greater challenges. During the guerrilla uprisings of the mid-1960s, danger swept through the Andes, forcing Maria and her family to flee from one village to another in search of safety. She remembers nights when they slept beneath the open sky, with no roof to cover them and no walls to keep out the cold.
Yet in those hard and uncertain years, something remarkable began to grow inside her. It was a deep trust in God. The seeds of faith were being planted in the heart of a young girl who refused to give up.
When Maria’s first child was born, new hardship came. The child’s father refused to take responsibility and left Maria alone to raise her little girl. Once again, she chose courage over despair. She worked tirelessly to provide for her daughter, and in doing so, she discovered a strength that could only come from God. In those years, Maria carried more than her child; she carried faith itself. A legacy was beginning to take shape.
Some years later, Maria met Martín Antonio Cruz. Together they built a family and had eight more children, seven of whom live to this day. Their life was simple and filled with work. The family cultivated the land, raised animals, and did whatever it took to survive. It was not easy. There were long days, few resources, and many sacrifices. But through every trial, Maria remained steady. Her faith became her anchor, and her prayers became her song.
In those quiet fields, she lived the words of Psalm 126:5–6: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Each prayer she whispered and each seed she planted became a testimony of hope. She planted more than food in the soil; she planted faith in her children’s hearts.
Today, the fruit of that faith can be seen clearly. Many of Maria’s children remain close to her, bound by the love and example of a mother who never stopped believing. Her perseverance so impacted one of her sons, Saturnino Cruz, that when he met Tony and saw the love of Christ given to the elderly in Cardompata, Saturnino, too, dreamed of serving others as Tony was doing, and he was equipped with the faith handed down to him from his mother to do just that! It reminds us of 2 Timothy 1:5: “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” Faith handed down through generations is a powerful tool God uses, and Saturnino’s dream of serving became reality through YOUR generosity.
Now, every 15 days, Saturnino rises before dawn, travels with Tony through the quiet streets of Carhuacalla, and begins his work. He is the director of a small outreach of the Home of Refuge called Hand of the Father, where your generosity enables 48 elderly men and women to receive food, care, and love. Working in coordination with Tony, Saturnino helps ensure every bag of rice is weighed, every basket is filled, and every home is visited.
He searches for new elderly neighbors in need so that Tony can continue expanding the outreach, and he makes sure the food is bought and delivered to each recipient, treating each person as family. Those who know him describe him as selfless, caring, and faithful. He serves with the steady heart of a man who believes that no act of kindness is too small for the kingdom of God. What a way to honor the legacy his mother has persevered to preserve.
Maria’s life reminds us that our faith reaches beyond our own trials. It touches the future. Your faith, like hers, paves the way for others to walk in hope. So, if you find yourself weary or discouraged, take heart. Anchor your faith in God, and determine not to give up. There is a legacy in the making, and it is worth every struggle.
A Season for Thanksgiving
As we turn our attention to the month at hand, we count YOU among our favorite blessings for which we give thanks! We are grateful beyond expression for the way you stand with us, in prayer and in financial support, extending the love of God through your faithfulness. We pray you will have a most wonderful time of gratitude and joy, surrounded by family and/or friends come November 27th. We are also deeply thankful to the Lord for His grace given to us; He truly has sustained us over these years of service for His Name. In October we were grateful to celebrate the 102nd birthday of an elderly lady who benefits from your giving each month. Praise the Lord! Your kindness has helped bless her to see another year. To our supporter who donated the funds for us to purchase walking canes, knee supports, and presents for the elderly, “thank you” doesn’t seem sufficient to convey our appreciation, but we heartily extend our gratitude for your generosity!
With Christmas just around the corner, we ask you to begin now considering how you can show your love and gratitude to God through an offering that helps us bless the poor this December. We want to provide a Christmas celebratory meal for the children in the jungle, as well as the elderly we reach in Carhuacalla and the surrounding vicinity. Will you help us make their hearts abound with thanks by your generosity? Please reach out to us as you decide how you want to respond to this opportunity.
We love and appreciate you all! Happy Thanksgiving to you as you celebrate the holiday.
Grace and peace,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Home of Refuge International, Inc.
