'Prayer warrior' isn't shy about
sharing her faith, self with community
By Scott Sloan, For The Taos
News
Celina Salazar has been
giving the gift of faith and charity for most of her life.
She has seen a lot of
history in Taos over the years, but she still stays rooted
among the people of the
community, whether to offer a prayer to those who are
troubled, a home remedy
for the sick, advice for those who seem caught over their
heads by the tribulations of
life.
"I think we've never lived
in such a stressful time as we do now. We never had time to
get into the trouble
people get into now," Celina explained.
She tells a story about a
classmate of hers who had one fountain pen that he shared with
the entire class. This
generous act is something Celina remembered over the years, as
priorities in others have
changed. Celina said this has adversely affected many who are
trying to make their way in
the world today.
But what makes Celina
special to those who know her is her patience, tolerance and wisdom. She is gentle, but outspoken,
and will use that demeanor to help many in the community who may be in trouble. Just
before this interview she had been talking to a young couple who were having financial
difficulties. They came to her because they knew that, if nothing else, she could send
them away with encouragement and a sense of responsibility. Her willingness to help
them was an indication of a generosity that is usually lacking among others who are often too
preoccupied with themselves.
"What can you do? If someone
comes to you in trouble, you can't just put them out on the street," Celina said, as if everybody
feels the same way.
It's the strength of her
faith that is the most remarkable thing to those who know her.
Celina has been called a
"prayer warrior" by some of her friends. As a young girl, she
decided to become a
missionary and attended Christian College in Seattle.
"I surprised everybody by
wanting to go," she remembered. She became a missionary with Brethren Home Missions in Arroyo
Hondo. After many years of this work, she also went to work at the local church,
teaching Sunday school, among other things.
"I wanted to serve the Lord,
so I did whatever was needed," she said.
She still considers herself
a missionary and still works at the enchilada dinners that the
Taos Christian Academy has on
the first Sunday of every month.
Celina is one of those
special individuals who helps many people by the strength of
her faith and her
tolerant, but firm, manner. After so many years, her friends
say that she still loves
to visit others, is not shy about her faith, and is an
indomitable spirit among the community.
