Support Teresa to bury her son and to move on.

Hi, my name is Fhyllis and I’m fundraising for Teresa Joao Guia, my Angolan sister and friend, who lost her son, Abel yesterday in a brutal murder at her home.

I have known Teresa for almost 20 years now. She was assigned as a maid to my house during my assignment in Angola. We became friends as she spent many hours taking care of my children as well, while I worked.

I came to learn about Teresa’s story over my 3 years in Angola. She was in my home the whole time. She confided that things got so bad for her family that her husband went to find work in Portugal to better provide/send money back home. He fell ill and had to have both legs amputated. She’s still unclear about the exact circumstances but he died and was buried in Portugal because she could not afford to bring his body back home,. Neither she nor her 3 small children (at the time) could afford to attend the funeral … they didn’t get to say ‘goodbye’.

In her words … ‘my husband had an illness, they cut both legs in Portugal after a while, he died in Portugal, because he had no money because he had already sold the house, they were buried in Portugal. My 3 children and I were struggling with the help of some people. The 3 of them work and help me with food and college tuition with the help of my lord’.

I have never seen anyone work as hard as Teresa. Her day started waaay before sunrise and often ended way after sunset. She was a leader/trainer among the compound staff but what stood out to me (and where we bonded) was her faith. Despite the heavy load she carried daily, Teresa took every step in faith. We often prayed and worshipped together, even with the language barrier between us.

Teresa informed me last year, that she had returned to school, gotten admission into a nursing program and was so excited that she was finally getting the education she always desired. She also sent an update a few months ago, that her daughter had gotten married. I was so happy that things were finally getting better for her and life seemed to be back on track.

Then, she texted me a picture of her son yesterday morning, saying ‘Meu filho morreu’ … her son died. Her was murdered. She said they lived together. She had Clinicals at the hospital the previous night but he was home with friends when she left. Abel even gave her taxi fare.

She said ‘when I get home I find the gate closed I asked the neighbor to jump the wall he found my son on the floor with cuts in his neck and lower and upper limbs, I don’t know what happened’. An autopsy is underway.

Teresa is devastated and broken (as to be expected). There’s no consoling her and my heart breaks for her. We need to encourage her, pls. I have never known her to complain or even ask for help. May we never know the pain of losing a child, IJMN. Amen. This was her hope … her retirement plan. She is devastated but continues to maintain her faith and trust in God.

I hereby ask my family, friends and strangers to lend Teresa a helping hand. She needs money now to bury Abel and to make ends meet now that his contribution is off the table. If anyone ever deserved the help, it would be this selfless and hardworking lady. Let’s help to hold her up and strengthen her faith at this very difficult time, pls.

Thank you Heavenly Father for those you’ll lead to bless Teresa today. Comfort and strengthen her Lord. May your will be done always, IJMN. Amen.