Casa Mint Women's Program

Join us in Loving Our Neighbors

Patricia's story

I had a difficult childhood. My family sent me to live with an aunt in Honduras. She beat me, burned me, and cut me. After a few years of this mistreatment, my aunt's neighbor called my family and told them that they needed to pick me up if they wanted to see me alive. I went back home to my parents. I expected things to get better. I was wrong. My father started touching me more and more until one day he sexually abused me. I told my mom, but she did not believe me and sent me to San Jose to live alone. My life got even worse. I worked for families as a maid. I hated it. I felt abandoned by my mother.

I am 61 years old. I come from a very dysfunctional family. I spent half of my life submerged in drugs and alcohol. That led me to live on the streets of the red zone in San Jose, Costa Rica.

I hit rock bottom when my daughter died from alcohol overdose. That day I felt that I had two paths open. I could choose to change my life and reach out for help or continue to destroy it.

I chose the path of healing through the power of the Lord. He put in my path pastor Gomez and Carol Ma from Casa Mint. They, as angels sent by the Lord, helped me out and gave me occupational therapy and spiritual support. I also joined AA.

Today I am a woman that is filled with thanksgiving, transformed with the love of God and the love of these people. I am part of the group therapy in Casa Mint and continue my meetings with AA. I also am a volunteer for a program helping people who live on the street. This has all been a huge blessing for me. I am now working on my relationships with my children and raising my 6-year-old grandson who was my late daughter’s son.

I know I now have the biggest treasure in my life: Jesus Christ.

Anonymous beneficiary.