by: Darline Maldonado | Family Empowerment Coordinator | Zone 18 Guatemala
Lesly married her husband at age seventeen. She was full of hopes and dreams, which grew even stronger when her oldest daughter was born. After some time, she began struggling because her husband was not working enough to provide for the family but, instead, was addicted to alcohol and having an affair. Lesly started working with her mother selling charcoal and wood in a Guatemala City bus terminal. Every day, she would travel with her young daughter to work, and while she filled up bags of coal, her daughter would lay on the floor over a blanket or on a wood pile. Four years later, Lesly gave birth to a baby boy who then died from bacterial pneumonia a year later, changing everything, not only for her, but for her daughter who had become so fond of her little brother as a playmate.
While suffering psychological abuse from her husband and dealing with his addictions, they had two more children. Their relationship as a couple worsened. He stopped providing for the home, wasting all his income on women and alcohol. When he did come home, he was drunk and would physically and verbally abuse Lesly with the three children watching. Finally, the violence came to a head when on one occasion, her husband nearly killed her with a knife. With the help of her family, she begged him to leave. He left reluctantly, leaving her pregnant, yet again.
Lesly continued working in the coal business, which left her hands and nails stained from her hard work. All her suffering led her to think it was not worth living. When she returned home from work, her children awaited her, but all she wanted to do was sleep to numb herself. She no longer enjoyed her children wanting to hug her, although they were the reason why she worked so hard; she just could not enjoy them or have fun with them. She was deeply depressed, had anxiety attacks, and wanted to die.
Through these difficult times, the local church was present in her life, visiting her regularly in her home. She began to turn her life around when she started to see her true value through God’s eyes. Through the church with whom World Orphans partners, she participated in parenting workshops where she received tools and encouragement to become a better mother. God provided psychological support for her and her oldest daughter through our World Orphans social workers, as well as a community where she felt appreciated. She received a monthly bag of staple foods, physically helping her and her children.
Eventually, through the World Orphans Economic Empowerment program, in conjunction with the local churches, Lesly began participating in a leather-sewing cooperative where a life dream of crafting products with her hands came true! Now, she is an important part of the Guatemalan artisan community and enjoys seeing her work exported and sold at the Castle Rock Collective storefront and online via worldorphansmarket.com.
Recently, the World Orphans economic empowerment director took photos of the artisans like the one shown, to help share their stories with those purchasing the products. Lesley was filled with gratitude because she was reminded again of God’s love in not only providing her the opportunity to learn a trade and earn an income, but in giving her dignity through something her hands had made. She no longer looks at her hands stained by charcoal, but she sees them as a way to create beautiful products which provide for her family.