Marielis Bonivento Epinayu , from the Wayuu Tribe in La Guajira, Colombia

Growing up in an impoverished desert town in northern Colombia doesn’t mean you are not taught strong moral values and traditions. “We didn’t have much of anything,” Marielis says, “but my mother and grandfather were Christians who taught me good principles to live by as well as our greatest legacy: faith in Christ Jesus.”

Meet Marielis Bonivento Epinayu. She was born into the Wayuu Tribe in La Guajira, in a region known to be one of the poorest and most underdeveloped in all of Colombia. Sadly, La Guajira has very high poverty with an astounding 75% struggling to access basic necessities. Adding to their troubles, it hasn’t rained there in three years.

Primarily farmers, the Wayuu speak “Wayuunaiki” along with Spanish. Marielis explains most families live in mud houses, with no access to electricity. Families cook with firewood and transport water on their backs or heads from wells to take home. Most traditional Wayuu marriages are arranged and include dowries to the mother’s brothers and uncles. To help make money, the Wayuu people sell high-quality artisan products and are especially known for their beautiful handcrafted “Wayuu bags.”

Marielis met Jhonatan Torres Jovien when he came on a mission trip to translate for an American church group visiting some Wayuu communities. After meeting Marielis, who translated Spanish into Wayuunnaiki, Jhonatan was so taken by her, he felt he should return as often as possible to help with her mission work. Their friendship quickly developed into a deep love and they were married on November 24, 2023.

Today, Marielis and Jhonatan are serving the Lord with mission trips to various Wayuu farming communities in the Guajira regions, as well as serving children where they live in Galapa. They are both taking LOGOI Bible courses, which are ideally designed to help them apply what they are learning on-the-job. “While LOGOI helps us with our Bible training, we also want to help the Wayuu with medicines, school supplies, food, Wayuunaiki Bibles, devotionals, and help find wells of fresh water. Finding fresh water is one of the biggest challenges in Wayuu communities,” Marielis explains. “We are limited by our lack of finances, but when we have the opportunity to bless others, we know what they need most is the ‘water of life’ through Jesus Christ.”

Would you take a moment right now and pray for Marielis and Jhonatan? In addition to asking prayer for wisdom and strength and financial stability to carry out their discipleship and care ministries, Marielis asks us to pray that the Lord will touch her father’s heart to believe in Jesus and be free from alcohol. Finally, they ask that we join them in praying for the children and adults they serve to stay strong and grow in their faith and not give in to temptations of the world. Amen!

P.S. You will be happy to know Marielis and Jhonatan received a shipment of “Darlene’s dolls” (see our March 2025 Missionary of the Month). They shared them in Galapa and in La Guajira with their children’s ministry. We understand most of the children have never received such a fine gift.

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