Fr. Bob of St. Martin of Tours Church told us that every time he visits the Webster home, he finds sacks of cement on the floor.
And lo and behold, when we dropped in to meet Aura Webster – a saintly 66-year-old woman who receives monthly food assistance through Cross Catholic – there it was…a pallet of cement sacks.
The reason for the cement is that Aura’s been gradually adding new rooms to her small house to accommodate the other 19 members of her household.
Yes, you read that correctly. 19. And no, it’s not a cultural thing. Most households on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin are far less crowded.
Some years ago, Aura began watching after other kids in the neighborhood who were running wild because their parents were neglecting them (largely because of substance abuse). It started out as a small thing, but then more children kept coming to Aura, until her house was nearly bursting at the seams. Between the new children and her own, there just wasn’t enough room, but Aura says she had a dream that God told her, “Obey and I’ll take care of the rest.”
So how does she manage? I imagine a lot of prayer. But the feeding program is also a big help. Each month, Fr. Bob sends an extra-large supply of non-perishable foods (provided through Cross Catholic funds) to her house so that all the children have something to eat. It’s a great example of believers working together to bring Christ’s love to the poor and needy.
-Tony M.