Gladys Rempel recently traveled to Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, to participate as a speaker and counsellor at the ministry her parents began. While there, she also recorded interviews for her Low German video program, A Good Life (Een scheenet Läwen).
Women say that her videos give them hope. When they hear she’s coming to a place nearby, they approach her so they can speak with her in person about issues they don’t feel comfortable talking about on the phone. Gladys finds that connecting with her audience through in-person sharing, counselling and praying helps her understand the issues women face so she can choose the most important topics to address next in her YouTube videos.
“A big part of my YouTube audience is in Mexico, and going to visit them in person helps me see the actual faces of the women I speak to on a weekly basis. It also helps them to see me as a real person they can relate to,” says Gladys.
Audience members often want to talk to Gladys about their struggles in marriage. One woman shared that her husband is away in U.S.A. much of the time. She fears he is living a double life and that one day he may not come home. Another woman shared that her husband is trapped in a cycle of watching pornography and then feeling bad about it. He apologizes, but then it soon happens again.
A third woman talked about the challenges of working in ministry and navigating life with teenaged children. For each woman who approached her, Gladys was able to listen, share advice, and offer some of Irene’s books about relevant topics.
Gladys took six boxes of Irene’s books with her to Mexico. She delivered half to the Services Integrales Menonitas office there, shared some with counsellors in the community, and distributed the rest to the women who came to hear her speak. The books were eagerly received in all cases, with requests for more.
Photo at Left: Gladys interviews her sister and brother-in-law, Erna and Benny, who work at the Vida 180 orphanage in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. The interviews cover topics like leadership, effective ministry, and trusting in God’s leading – even if it takes a long time. The conversations with Erna and Benny will be combined with segments filmed in our Winnipeg studio to create relevant and impactful episodes. Look for them to be released in May, 2022.
Photo, Top of the Page: Gladys interviews Denver Penner, the Director of the Vida 180 orphanage in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico.