Sometimes all it takes is opening our eyes to notice when someone is in pain. Flor, who lives in a small Costa Rican city, was struggling with alcohol and drug addiction until she met Arlin [ar-leen], a Seventh-day Adventist neighbor.

“I was lazy, I was on the street a lot, I was into bad things. I was looking for God, but nobody helped me.”

Arlin lived in the same neighborhood as Flor for many years, but she never noticed the way Flor lived until one day she stopped and talked to her. She asked Flor if she needed anything, and Flor immediately started crying.

“That day I went to the shop and I got something for her to eat and I gave it to her. I asked her, Would you like me to study with you? She said, Yes. So, from that day, I began to study with her.”

Arlin told her pastor about Flor. They brought food and studied the Bible with her on a regular basis.

“I come and I have prayer with her. And, She loves this song, Give Me a New Heart, My Lord. In the morning, when I come and pray with her, I put that music on so she can hear it.”

“She decided to be baptized. She was baptized in the church and all of the members received her with a hug. And she was so happy, because, maybe, there were many years where no one hugged her until that day.”

“I felt joy that she came here to pray for me in the morning, and that gave me a beautiful feeling in my heart. And then I started going to church. I was baptized and I am happy.”

Flor’s life was transformed, and she is no longer struggling with addiction the way she was before. Like Flor, many people are facing difficulties and suffering in silence. They need our compassion, our support, and our prayers. As Seventh-day Adventists, we have a special mission to share the love of God with those who are struggling around us. Let’s be aware of the people who are hurting in our communities and show them the hope and joy that we have in Jesus!