Sonia Allemant, a member of the Atlanta First Hispanic Church, Tucker, Georgia, is an occupational therapist who graduated in Peru, and serves as interventionist in matters related to early childhood in hospitals. She is married and has twin girls. Her life was like that of any mother who works and cares for her family until her parents, who always helped her with the care of the girls, made a trip to Peru, their country of origin. There, her mother became seriously ill. Sonia made arrangements with her job, and left for Peru to take care of her mother. Her employer promised they would maintain her position in her absence. The illness was prolonged, and Sonia had to remain in Peru for almost a year. As a result, she lost her job. When her mother’s health improved, Sonia returned to the United States. She immediately set out to get another job, but with no success.
The financial situation of her family became difficult. Although her husband stayed in the United States to work while Sonia cared for her mother, they had always counted on Sonia’s income, and it was hard to maintain the infrastructure they had as a family. In the middle of this scenario, her mother’s health worsened and Sonia had to return to Peru.
Once again, there she was at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport — sad, angry, with little money, alone with her two girls in a stroller, hanging on to handbags, and wondering how long this unsustainable situation would stretch. A deep fear of what awaited her on that journey took over her mind. Suddenly, they announced that it was time to board the plane. She had to make a transfer in Miami, Florida, and the stroller she was carrying was a fundamental tool for the transportation and safety of her daughters. As she was about to get on the plane, she tried to close the stroller many times, but it seemed to be stuck. The crew kindly tried to assist her, but without success. The plane was ready to depart from the gate, and they were still trying to close the stroller. Some passengers came out and did whatever they could, but it was in vain. She was told that she would have to leave the stroller. Sonia tried to figure out how she would manage in Miami with the girls and the luggage. Finally, the pilot felt compassion and came to help, but again, the stroller would not close. At that moment, as a last resort, Sonia said, “God, please help me.” She finished saying these words and lifted the stroller as if to try for the last time, and before pushing it, the stroller closed. When she got on the plane, the other passengers applauded her. Nervous and embarrassed, she sank into her seat wanting to disappear. After arriving in Miami, she tried to open the stroller and found that it was locked again. This time, she prayed first, and the stroller opened immediately.
While flying to Peru, Sonia meditated on the incident, and could clearly see that God wanted her to know that He was right there with her the whole time, and was going to continue to accompany her. She cried and asked for His forgiveness. Great peace flooded her heart, and she faced her fears in a different way.
Her mother’s health improved completely, and they all returned to the United States. Once they were back, the search for a job began again, but with a different attitude. After a while, she was offered a position with three patients in Gainesville, Georgia, far away from home. She wondered if it was worth the effort, but decided to take the job anyway. This was the situation for a month and a half.
One Sabbath in mid-December 2016, a call was made for a special offering at the Atlanta First Hispanic Church to cover a financial deficit with the church’s finances. Each family was asked to donate a minimum of $250. Sonia’s husband is not an Adventist, and he had been sympathetic and generous to the situation of his in-laws. She did not want to ask him for money. However, she said to herself, “God has shown me that He is by my side. I want to give this money that I do not have now, but I know He will provide.” She filled out the form with the pact, and went home in peace.
That week, the number of children assigned to her at the hospital began to increase, and after a few days, she had 16 children to assist. On January 21, 2017, Sonia gave her happy offering. That money was given with gratitude for an experience she will never forget.
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee,” 1 Chronicles 29:14 KJV.
is the SURF customer service and accounts manager at the Southern Union in Norcross, Georgia.
Southern Union | March 2017
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