Alma's Story (English)

Hello. I am a 25-year-old mother. I have a 9-year-old girl. We fled Guatemala and came to the United States on June 10. I was in the “dog pound” for two days with my daughter. On June 12 my nightmare started because that was when they separated me from my daughter. They told me that I was going to go to a criminal court and that I would be back with my daughter in 2 hours but it wasn’t like that. They brought us chained at the feet and hands and then they took us to prison in Laredo. I was there without knowing of my daughter. I had no news of her. I was in a very bad state. I did not eat or sleep but thankfully God was with me and then they took me to a detention center called Port Isabel. I don’t wish anyone to have to go there. I was there without knowing of my daughter for 15 days, when I finally spoke to her. She was crying when she stayed behind in the “dog pound.” She suffered a lot. She asked me why I had abandoned her and asked if I didn’t love her anymore but I told her that she was everything to me and she is my reason for living because she is a gift that God gave me. In Port Isabel they treated us badly. The officials told us that we were going to be deported and that our children were going to stay and be given up for adoption and that we deserved everything that was happening to us because we had invaded their country. The officials treated us like animals. They gave us food that was just cheese and bread. We asked for a change in the food and they told us we should be thankful for what we got.

But thank God they sent us good people who helped us. Everything is possible in Christ who gives me strength. Thank you.

Drawing – “God” “Love” “Thank you Lord for giving us good people in my life and on my path” “Call to me and I will answer you. God is great.”