Martha's Story

As a youngster I lived a life of violence in my family. When I was six years old I made the decision that I would not live in violence when I was grown. At age twelve I started to work and by the time I was eighteen I was married with a child.  This marriage was very difficult because it too was violent. So with great sorrow in my heart I left my village in Zacatecas and went to Ciudad Juarez. I left my little girl with my mother thinking that I could bring her to Juarez when I got settled.

Time passsed qickly because I was working first as a housekeeper in El Paso and then in a maquiladora (international factory). I lived with my older aunt, but I was very alone. In time I met a man whom I married. I had great hope that I could bring my daughter to Juarez to live with us. However, my family did not want to let her go. She never lived with me in Juarez and is now grown living in the United States. In my second marriage I had four children. Even with my four children I was still very sad for having lost my first born. I was sad all of the time and seldom smiled. I felt very alone becase I had no friendships and no family in Juarez. All I had was my daily routine alone in the house with the children. I thought that my husband and children and the land we had would give me happiness but I was still alone--not complete.

There was something missing in my life but I had no idea what it was. I would go to different churches and groups thinking I would feel better and lose my sadness. I never found what I was looking for until I met a woman named Lupita who invited me to a prayer group that was meeting in the little salon at Capilla San Andres. There in the little salon I met a group of women who had formed a prayer group. This was the beginnings of Centro Santa Catalina. I had no idea that the little prayer group would grow into a community of women of faith and  hope. Every week we prayed together, we dreamed together, we made decisions together, we learned together. Those beginning years were years of growth for me. In time I became happy and found a deep spirituality inside of me. I found a community of friendship and hope.

Now I am one of the leaders at Centro Santa Catalina. I am the coordinator of the weekly prayer group a teacher in Valores, Fe y Vida and a member of the Cooperative. At Centro Santa Catalina I have found a community. In this community I learn, grow, share, work and find God. I have learned how to share my faitah and hopes with my children and grandchidlren. I give thanks to God for having let me into the community at Centro Santa Catalina. Today I am a different woman filled with spirituality in myself and for my family. I am a woman of light and  hope living with a vision and mission for my family and my community. I give thanks that my deepest desire is coming true. I have a spiritual life and not a life of violence.