This father of five, including three children registered with Compassion, told us about a tragic accident that left him hopeless and near death. But it was just the beginning of his story of healing and hope.

Gil Paz

This father of five, including three children registered with Compassion, told us about a tragic accident that left him hopeless and near death. But it was just the beginning of his story of healing and hope.

Gil, a father of five, fell into despair and even contemplated taking his life after a devastating carpentry accident.

Home Country: Peru

Occupation: Carpenter


Q: Tell us about your family and your community. What is your day-to-day life like?

A: My name is Gil Paz, and I am married to Micaela. We have five children: Sonia, Segundo, Milton, Maria Belen and Maria Keila. Sonia, Segundo and Milton are all registered with Compassion. To be honest, we go through many difficulties, especially due to lack of a steady job for me. I have a family to look after and sometimes my children or wife get sick. My community is a poor community. We don't produce anything here, and it's been years in this condition. We don't know who to go to for help. We want to learn new skills. I like carpentry, I like construction, and I wish I could learn more of these skills.

Gil with his family.
Gil's children.

Q: Tell us more about your desire to learn carpentry.

A: From a very early age, since I was in primary school, I always wanted to be a carpenter. I worked as a carpenter assistant to acquire knowledge on how to handle different machines. I told my wife that once I learned the skills I needed, I would open my own shop and be able to provide for our family. The accident changed so many things, though. But not my dream.


Q: Could you share with us about your accident?

A: One day, I did not have any money, and my wife was asking me to get some to buy food and detergent. We didn’t have anything to eat or to do the laundry. So, I told her I would go to the shop where I had been training as a carpenter’s assistant to try to do some work and earn some money. I started working, planing the wood. I was using the blade when the wooden board broke down, and it cut [off parts of] four fingers of my right hand. There was blood everywhere and I was really scared. I was taken to a small health care center and I was treated there.


Q: After the accident what did you do? How did you feel?

A: After the accident, I was in great pain. My children started crying when they saw me. My whole family was also shocked. I couldn’t work because of the pain. I came home, my kids didn't have anything to eat. We suffered a lot. I talked to my wife, and I just decided I'm gonna take my life. What's the point of living? I'm not providing for my children. I thought we were bad, but now we're getting worse.

Gil with his family at home.

Q: What changed?

A: The pastor came to visit me because my wife told him she was worried about me. The church helped us with bags of groceries. They prayed for me and my family. They came to visit and encouraged me to change my mindset. They gave me hope, because God poured His blessings upon me. I was encouraged by their support. Compassion helped me with some of my medications and provided food for my family.

I am grateful for their support. I don’t know what I would have done without their help to get my medications.


Q: Can you tell us how you’re doing now?

A: I am currently recovering at home and sometimes I help my wife to bring yuccas, since she works on a farm. My healing is slow and painful, but because of Compassion and the help from the church, I have hope. I smile every day when my older children come home from the center because they share their drawings with me and sing me the songs they learn at the center. God is great, and I believe He sent Compassion and you guys to us. And because of that, I'm at peace, my kids and I have hope for the future, we're happy. And we want Compassion to continue working hard on behalf of the children. There are many children who would like to be part of Compassion.