Maria’s family immigrated to Fernheim, Paraguay, in 1929. Six months after arriving in Friedensruh No. 6, Maria’s father died of typhus. Maria’s grandparents moved in. Through their and her mother’s example, Maria learned about God. At 11, she gave her life to Christ. The family moved to Filadelfia. When her family couldn’t afford to send her to school her final year, Maria was devastated. She learned to sew and worked for a store making trousers and shirts. She was hesitant to fall in love with Jacob because he didn’t have a relationship with Jesus, but she prayed God would use her in his life. Many years later, her prayers were answered when Jacob gave his life to Christ. Maria loved her children dearly and prayed for her family daily. After Jacob was offered a job in Vancouver, the family immigrated to Canada in 1973. Maria cleaned houses during the day and attended English classes in the evening. Ten years later, they moved to Abbotsford, B.C. In 1989, their daughter Sylvia was diagnosed with Still’s disease. Maria spent half her time at Sylvia’s helping care for her home and family. In 1995, Jacob had a stroke that left him unable to speak or walk. Maria sold their home and cared for him in an apartment. When he had another stroke the next year, she reluctantly put him in a home. Despite her grief from the loss of her mother, husband and daughter, Maria trusted God wholeheartedly.
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