Stories Worth Telling - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

I have the privelege of living with a sweet group of teens and
kids at le Quinta Esperansa. It’s
a place where the youth are loved, provided with food, training, and a safe
home. They are trained to lead children and youth, dance, learn life skills, and receive biblical education.

Every day I am inspired by their lives! They serve their community and work
around their home with excellence.
These kids deserve to be honoured and respected. Each one of them has a gripping story
that I’ve been able to hear a bit about.
I’ve tried to keep it real and share their stories as close as possible
to how they told me.

Patricia

Patricia is a beautiful 17 year old girl full of life from
Masay. When she was 11, her
parents got divorced. Her mother
left abruptly without telling her where she was going. Her father was left to take care of her
but he was busy working and didn’t have time for Patricia. So she found herself living with her grandmother. This also ended badly… her grandmother
mistreated her. After 2 years,
Patricia escaped from her grandma and went to live with her friend. She lived with her friend for 2 months
during this time she wasn’t attending school. Her friend’s mom was often out and at parties, the two girls
made do with the food available to them.
One day, her 20 year old brother came to visit her. Her brother knew all about her life and
how she has suffered. Her brother
had been living at Le Quinta Esperansa and invited her to live at Le Quinta as
well. At first she wasn’t into the
idea, but eventually she decided to leave her friends place. She came to le Quinta when she was 13…
it was very hard to fend for herself in her old life and she quickly learned
that she liked it at le Quinta.
Patricia accepted Jesus when she was 13, and shortly after was baptized. Her life now and the way she lives is
very different. She’s learned to
forgive her family, and she knows God is her only father; He will never leave
us. She can teach children and
lead a group of teens with confidence.
Patricia is happy to be doing productive and meaningful things with her
life. She is a goal oriented and
motivated girl. She’s working hard
at achieving her goal of being a psychologist. We can be praying for her goals, family, and future.

Desire

Desire’s dad took her to the church at La Quinta Esperanza in
2004. She began going to church
because she was bored at home… she didn’t really listen to the sermons or take
to heart the messages of the songs.
People took and interest in her and she began to listen to what they
were saying about God. She accepted
Jesus when she was 17. After she
accepted Jesus she realized that everything in her life was better. It was difficult to abandon the things
she did before becoming a Christian.
She’s now thankful for where God has taken her, and knows that God has a
purpose for her life. She likes to
talk about the bible and about uplifting things. She’s a fiery and fun 21 year old who spends a lot of her
time helping out at Le Quinta. She’s sharing from the bible, taking care of
kids, leading teens, dancing, laughing, and singing with joy and spunk.

Flor

Flor is a beautiful 16 year old. God has been doing a lot in her life. She’s already been through deep hurt
and experienced injustice, but this is not who she is. Flor is a young women with confidence
in her heavenly father and is able to bring a unique perspective and clarity to
difficult situations. It’s hard
for her to share about her life, she realizes she’s been through things that
others have not, but she was shows brave vulnerability to share some of it with
me, and you.

When she was 10 years old, she smoked, drank and hung out at
bars with a group of rough girls. When she was 13 she left all that. She was invited to a campaign where she
heard about Christ and accepted Him.
She found out about le Quinta Esperansa through her uncle – a security
guard at le Quinta. She’s only
seen her father one time, her mother is unable to take care of her because
she’s a person with different abilities.
She had been living with her grandfather but he didn’t want her
anymore. She has one brother –
Sammy, who’s 12. She has
experienced much abuse from her family. Her brother is ok now, and even though
she doesn’t see her family, even though she was treated badly, beaten, and
suffered a lot of pain, she’s ok. Although
her family doesn’t want her, she has a family at le Quinta who loves her, and
has supported her financially, practically…with everything. She doesn’t want to
dwell on the past and what she’s been through but rejoices about her current
life. Since staying at le Quinta she’s given up her old habits such as drinking
and smoking; she’s a different person.
She was baptized 4 years ago, and now her life is all for God. In the future she wants to be a
missionary. She knows out of her pain she’s come to find God and find hope, and
has peace about this.