{"id":52131,"date":"2023-12-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/?post_type=resource&p=52131"},"modified":"2023-10-26T14:37:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T19:37:15","slug":"pray-with-the-dominican-republic-december-10-2023","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/resource\/pray-with-the-dominican-republic-december-10-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Pray with the Dominican Republic, December 10, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lectionary Selection:<\/strong>  Isaiah 40:1-11<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prayers for the Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer for Children<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord God, who is Father and Mother, I thank you, I bless you, I praise and glorify you for having taken me by the hand to tread a difficult path and make a \u201cWalking\u201d [1]<\/a> Institution flourish amid aridity to free so many children from sin and the evil of adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We thank you for being our strength, light, and guide to continue the path of justice, solidarity, and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We thank you for so many protective, supportive, and beneficent people, without whom it would not have been possible to do what we have done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Jesus, help us in a way that our voices never be silenced to denounce injustices, abuses, and violations of the rights of Haitian children and migrants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good God, give us the strength to remain firm, paving the way so that each child who comes to Caminante<\/em> finds dignified treatment as a person subject to rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ask you, Lord, for the unaccompanied Haitian children, those who are on the move with their families, afraid of being deported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holy Spirit,  enlighten the decision-makers of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other countries at war to resolve the problems between these countries so impoverished people have food, health, education, and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/a> Caminante means \u201cthe one who walks\u201d in Spanish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mission Moment from the Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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I want to share a story of a 20-year-old young woman:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was born when my mother was 14 years old.\u00a0I was raised by my maternal grandmother, who, to this day, accompanies me. I grew up in a family dilemma. My parents fought every day. My mother took out her anger on me by physically abusing me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 12, I arrived at Caminante to receive psychological therapy for bad behavior. My family did not cooperate, and I stopped attending. When I was 13, I started frequenting the streets.\u00a0I was raped, abused by men, even women. I drank alcohol, smoked hookah, and marijuana. My mother and grandmother took me out of the house. CONANI (National Council for the Protection of Children and Adolescents) took me to a foster home. Shortly after, they took me back to my family. While under CONANI, I became more rebellious and full of hatred toward my parents. They took me to a psychiatrist for depression. The medications made me even more defiant, and I hated my mother.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went back to the street. I stayed with other young women, and men abused all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My brothers and sisters from Caminante contacted me and came for me. They started helping me work on my emotions. They sent me to take a computer course. I continued with psychological therapies and approached my mother and grandmother. I felt like I was missing something. Soon, I realized it was Christ. I started attending a church and accepted the Lord Jesus. I began changing my physical and emotional life, enrolling in a school and a technology center. This year, I graduated from high school with honors. I am attending Air Force school to soon be in the military. In the meantime, I am now collaborating in Caminante with teenagers crossing the same paths as when I was their age. I am thankful to Caminante for the patience and confidence they had with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer and sharing of the story: Sister Denisse Pichardo, Executive Director, Proyecto Caminante<\/em>
Translated from Spanish by Angel Luis Rivera Agosto<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partners in the Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n