I Pray Thee Lord, Their Souls To Keep

About the Book

In 1988, the author went on vacation to Cancun, Mexico.  While walking on the beach, she met a little girl in a chance encounter.  The two quickly became friends despite their differences, and before leaving to return home, the author promised to visit again the following year.  But then a devastating hurricane hit the area, and wiped out all trace of the girl’s family and their flimsy shack by the beach.  The author’s search for the family led her into a world of stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots—the tourists who can afford a vacation versus the daily struggles of the poor who build the hotels and clean their rooms.  It also gave her insight into what is most important in life, as she struggled with difficulties of her own.  In her effort to help the family improve its standard of living through the years, she came to the realization that, even though you are only one person, you can make a difference in others’ lives.  And that, if you do, the rewards for yourself are endless.

About the Author

Sandra Songdahl lives in Massachusetts with her husband, John. She continues to make annual trips to Cancun and visit with Yazmin and her family. Photo: The author with Sandra Paula and Juan Jesús in 1998.