HONDURAS UPDATE
Winter 2017
Cuido Mi Camino
Perhaps you have heard of the Camino de Santiago de Compostelo,
or The Way of St. James. It is said that as early as the 8th Century, the
faithful trod this path in pilgrimage to the Apostle, as a spiritual duty
or retreat. Today, most refer to the journey simply as The Camino.
Recently, one of our mentors was filmed discussing her own path.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGWHLjPWNoU&feature=you
tu.be. The first time I saw this footage, Iviss simple words exploded
in my heart and continue to do so each time I think of them. Cuido
mi camino, meaning, I guard my path (or my purpose, my way).
Unfortunately, these four words lose a lot in translation. They have
great power because Ivis believes them, and not because she learned
how to have a purpose but rather she met the Person that gave her a
purpose. Now, the most valuable thing she can do in life is guard it.
What Ivis does matches up with what she says, and in this way, the
many young women she teaches want to share her experience. Last
month, one of our new mentor candidates came to us saying that she
wanted to be a part of our work because she watched so many of our
leaders become different young women, and she wanted to be like
them. No greater compliment than that!
Ivis wasnt always this way. She gave no thought to her life or future.
When we met her 4 years ago, Ivis was a painfully shy 16-year-old.
Rarely did she speak and often looked quite unhappy. (The pictures
above show Ivis at 16, in her period of sadness, and today with her
mentor Chelsey.) Ivis told me that she was emotionally locked up
back then. A deep depression clung to her because of a difficult family
situation and she could not bring herself to talk to anyone about it.
As Ivis began to open up, sharing her wounds with the team, she
blossomed. The shy, silent, child began to heal and become a font of
Mailing Address: World Resources Group 456 Myers Ave Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Questions: Nelle Pettit Smith npsmith@bellsouth.net
wisdom and confidence. Counseling can help a person change only
so far. It takes a very special encounter with a very special Person to
complete that healing. And Ivis had that encounter in our center.
Asked what her life would have been like had Ivis not met us, her
answers shredded me. I cant imagine having lost Ivis, and there are
well over 1,000,000 Honduran girls, most as lost and wounded as she
was, that we are desperate to reach. A few of Ivis thoughts are below.
I think totally differently since I started here. Four years ago, its like
I switched brains. The consequences of my life didnt matter to me
then. I didnt think about the future. It didnt matter if I got pregnant
or had a baby as a single mom. Now, Ive learned to value myself. I
have a purpose and know how to fulfill that purpose.
I think the youth of Honduras are the same as I was. They dont
analyze or think about good versus bad. They just live in what is; they
use drugs. They get pregnant without being married. They do what
they see everyone else doing. Theyre not thinking, just acting
Ive never been religious, never went to church. But I had an
experience with Jesus in this place, in the center, my first year. It was
beautiful and I dont think I would know Jesus if it werent for that.
The truth is, I dont think I would think the same as I do now. I have
completely changed. I take care of what is mine. Cuido mi camino.
If we can lead our children into real encounters that change their
thoughts and actions, then everything needed for success will be
added. I teach the youth but I also learn from them. Ivis taught me a
huge lesson in that interview. And, I ask myself daily, Nelle are you
cuido-ing your camino? Thank you to our family of friends around
the world who know the future of us all rests on doing just that.
Phone: 561-758-2198