A Long time ago there was a young Spanish girl named Evangeline. The child had a milky complexion with olive tones. Eyes the color of emeralds and hair the color of raven’s feathers. Evangeline was mature beyond her years and would study her bible with great earnest.
A bible was given to her by Evangeline’s grandmother. Evangeline would visit her grandmother and hear stories of the family. Stories that were passed on for generations. How she loved these stories! This beautiful little child would write notes for herself to remember the expressions, key words, and points in grandma’s stories. Evangeline wanted to be just like her.
In 1928, Evangeline lived with her mom and dad in a small apartment. Dad worked at the factory. Mom stayed at home and took care of the family. Evangeline loved her home. She had her own bed and could decorate her room with her favorite singers picture posters.
Mom would sing songs and play with puzzles. Mom, Rosita, would invite Evangeline’s friend’s over for dinner. Their home was the fun place to be. Rosita taught Evangeline how to cook, sew, and how to read and write. Rosita taught her bright child how to count numbers, how to subtract, multiply, and divide. Evangeline and Rosita would sing and dance. The family would go out to parks, county fairs, or listen to music on the radio.
That is, until the stock market crash. Jobs were scarce and dad was laid off. The bank foreclosed on the mortgage and told John and Rosita they had to get out. Mama was in a panic. It was not their home anymore.
Homes were foreclosing on all our friends. Just like us, our little family had to pack up our things and find a place to stay. Dad looked for work but there was no work. Mom tried the best she could to find food for us to eat. Rosita would feed us first before she fed herself. She ended up getting tuberculosis. Mom was put in a place where she would not infect anyone.. A place called a sanitorium, for people with respiratory problems, like tuberculosis, back then.
Dad, John, could no longer take care for Evangeline and asked Grandma Louise if she would take care of his precious daughter. John’s heart was broken and he knew it was the only way for Evangeline to have a happy life.
Evangeline held her dad before he left and they cried together. Evangeline begged dad to stay but he was too ashamed to have grandma to pay for his room and board and not earning his keep.That would be the last time Evangeline would see her father. He died in a traffic accident not long after.
People think kids can get over things like that. However, Evangeline was forever changed. The little songbird became withdrawn and quiet. Our angel could no longer relate to the world around her.
Grandma Louise would sing in church and teach stories to the children using puppetry. Puppets, made from socks with buttons for eyes. Fabric pieces and cotton were woven together for the puppets face and arms. Grandma lovingly wove the pieces together and the characters came alive!
The puppets would tell stories about Noah and the ark, Jonah and the Whale, and stories Jesus taught. Evangeline was in the first row for grandma’s puppet shows.
Grandma started working with Evangeline on how to be a storyteller and how to make puppets.
While her friends were out playing, she would sew and make costumes for her puppets. Evangeline started helping with vacation bible school and leading childrens church. Every lesson started and ended with a prayer and a song.
Evangeline graduated from high school at 17 and decided
to take some nursing classes at the community college.
At 21, Evangeline felt called to go to the mission field. She told her grandma and they prayed for God’s guidance. Grandma was getting old and knew she might not see her Evangeline again. Louise prayed for God’s protection and angels to watch over her granddaughter.. Sad goodbyes mixed with hope. Grandma waved goodbye as Evangeline drove towards the airport. Grandma got on her knees. God, I don’t know what Evangeline will face but put your angels in front and behind her. She is yours dear God. I love her so much..
Evangeline went to Brazil and learned the Portuguese language and grew to love the people. She helped teach English, helped in the hospitals, and helped in the community church. She became the angel of Brazil.
abençoado Evangeline. (Blessed Evangeline) A prayer warrior for the children.
A figure of Evangeline stands with a candle on my shelf. She is still praying for the children, many lost souls, to come back to God.
