Manos Compasivas (Compassionate Hands)is the name of the ministry of the church in Barrio Africa that comes alongside people to share their burden in the midst of situations that are more than they can bare. That is what Idalme does. She is part of Manos Compasivas and she is full of joyous energy.

One of the people she visits is Gloria a woman in her late 50s.  Gloria like many people in Cuba has high blood pressure and diabetes.  She is the caretaker for her husband Ignacio who recently had a heart attack and her sister Iris who is disabled after most of her body was burned in a fire many years ago.  To this home where pain and discouragement can take hold, Idalme brings joy, love and friendship along with groceries and medication.  She is there for them in their need.

 Henri Nouwen wrote: “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears.”  

And Idalme is a living example of what compassion is all about.