Lute lives at home with her son, Jesus (19 years old). Jesus is the one who supports himself and his mom.

Lute is originally from Torreon. She came to Juarez when she was 15 years old. Her parents decided to move to Juarez for work because her father did not have a good job in Torreon. Her father was a manual laborer on construction, in Juarez there was plenty of work for him. They lived with different people who offered them a place to stay, and after a couple of years they found Anapra.

When they moved to Anapra, Lute married her husband. They built a wood pallet house covered with cardboard and a dirt floor. The house was not strong. Her husband had a job where he had to go away for many days, leaving Lute with her children on their own without electricity nor running water and only one neighbor close by because there were not many people living in Anapra at that time. Lute had more children and it was getting more difficult to live on a very low wage. In days when there was no gas to cook she and her little ones would go out looking for wood to cook outside.

When the beans and rice program started at Lakeland, Bertha offered Lute support. This became a blessing in her life. With 9 children and only one income it was hard to count on a daily meal. This gave her the trust of knowing her children would have a plate of beans and rice every day.

“How can I describe the feeling of gratitude I feel for this blessing in our lives” she says. “This is still being a support not for me and my son, because we can buy other groceries that we need, and count on for sure a daily meal.” Lute is very grateful for the support that has been given to her. She has been in the program since it started. Lute’s other children have married and moved close by.

“God bless each one of you for your generosity. Please continue doing this for people like me. I pray to God for each of you that he keeps you safe and blesses your homes.”

Lute is one of the volunteers who is helping to bag up beans and rice each month.