Hear Joni and Shauna talk about a sweet family during Heart for the Disabled week. Listen in and be blessed.
SHAUNA: AndJoni, I am excited about Heart for the Disabled week!
JONI: And, Shauna, you know it well. You’ve been joining me on this campaign for years. And listening friend, January [just to remind you] is when all of us at Joni and Friends invite you to bless five families who live with the hardships of disability. These friends need encouragement—just in time for Valentine’s Day! So, let me tell you about Ariel and Euvrena and their children.
He and Euvrena serve any place they see a need. When they learned that a local family was adopting three children from Haiti, one with a disability, Pastor Ariel was waiting at the airport to greet the kids in Haitian Creole. During their first meal in their new home with their adoptive parents, Ariel stayed to translate for the children. And then, Euvrena invited the family over for a feast of Haitian food. And the first time that family’s disabled daughter was hospitalized, Ariel and Euvrena left their own anniversary dinner to quickly go to the medical center to translate for this precious one. In the same way, Ariel and Euvrena have come alongside countless families within their church and beyond.
After having two children themselves, Andel and Sebastian, they did not think Euvrena would be able to have another child. So, the arrival of their son Asaph was an unexpected blessing, even though he was diagnosed in with Down syndrome. Asaph is even more of a blessing, given that doctors advised Euvrena to abort him. And now? Asaph is an outgoing, active 10-year-old who loves hymns, loves to pray, and he loves Jesus. He also has a tendency to run. And it means that Asaph needs constant supervision to keep him safe. He’s also gone through several surgeries to correct some digestive issues. His diet and feeding are quite a challenge. But Ariel and Euvrena love their family and their church.
And now, they are adjusting to yet another life change. Euvrena had a brain aneurysm. The fact that this mother survived and retained her current level of functioning is a miracle— “like Lazarus,” Euvrena says.” Nevertheless, she has significant neurological complications that impact almost every area of her life. And she’s not able to attend church and she suffers from chronic pain.
Well, this year, Ariel, Sebastian, and Asaph attended Family Retreat for the first time although Euvrena [with her complications] could not join in. But was so healing for Ariel to enjoy a little respite knowing that Asaph was safe with his volunteer buddy. So! Ariel is now caring for his wife and for his son, as well as their whole family. Oh my, this family needs an outpouring of love, so please send them a Valentine, a scripture, your favorite poem. How about the words to a hymn of the faith? And Shauna, where should folks listening, mail their cards?
SHAUNA: Mail your cards to Ariel and Euvrena, in care of Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. And if you missed any details, everything’s posted at joniradio.org, including the stories about all our Heart for the Disabled families. Be blessed by the heartwarming photo we’ve posted of this incredible family at joniradio.org. And remember, that’s joniradio.org. And God bless you for having a heart for the disabled.
© Joni and Friends