So, guess what! This week myself and two teammates had the opportunity to spend 3 days in the drug recovery program with the women here at Ciudad Refugio. It was such a crazy experience that I will try to sum up in not too many words.
I was so excited when we were given the option of living with program participants this week. We have been working with these women over the last 3 weeks and I saw this as an opportunity to grow in relationship with them. I was also a little nervous about what they would think about it; Would they think that I’m just some white girl ‘gracing them with her presence so that she could have a worldly experience’ or would they see how much I respect them and just want to spend time loving and supporting them?
But I’m glad to report that they welcomed us with open arms. They were so happy to have us. Despite language barriers, differences in life experiences, and our clear lack of knowledge of what we were getting ourselves into, they treated us like one of them and laughed with (and at) us and helped us every step of the way.
There are currently 7 women participating in the program. They live on the third floor. And let me tell you, it is TOUGH. They wake up at 5am every morning, take cold bucket showers, have an hour-long teaching and are in the kitchen by 7am where they work like trojans until midday. Their afternoons vary but usually consist of classes and chores with the occasional outing.
It was tiring and frustrating. There were so so many rules and I think I managed to break all of them before they explicitly laid them out for us. No phones. No lights during the day. No medication. No borrowing. No looking down onto the street. No contact with men. The list goes on.
In my rebellious nature I felt so limited and so sorry for these girls who had to endure this life for a whole year. But what I found most confusing and most inspiring were the attitudes of these amazing women. They were so cheerful, so humble, and so ready to give. When I think of the lives they must have lived before, the complete freedom to give into any impulse, and the contrast that this program offered, I’m surprised any of them managed to stay. And that is just a testament to the character of these ladies, the hope that they have, and their desire to change.
They are tough as nails, street smart, but have hearts of gold and are just the biggest laugh. I had so much fun spending time with them and am so inspired that, even though they have nothing, and live in such confinement, they choose to find the joy and to share it with others.
