EXPLORE
A CHANGED LIFE: PATTY'S STORY
At a young age of eight years old, Patty lived in profound poverty in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the most violent city in the world. She suffered sexual and physical abuse from her violent mother and alcoholic step-father. One day, when her step-father approached her to sexually abuse her again, she picked up her small backpack and ran. She went to the orphanage where her brother had been taken and the leaders allowed her to stay.
Six months later, my husband Wyly and I came to San Pedro Sula and we were ministering to the children at that orphanage. When we met Patty, she was very malnourished and seldomly spoke a word. She had never been allowed to go to school and her mother and step-father were attempting to get her back so the torment and trauma continued.
Patty was happy to be in the orphanage which was run by a local church, but it was filled with corruption and a religious spirit. She was young, but determined and had a desire to see a better life for herself. As the oldest in the home, she helped with the other children and had learned to be a leader and to handle responsibility, but she never had much guidance or real, caring people around her. She was a Cinderella child–overworked and under-loved. Patty held a special place in my heart and my hugs for her were filled with faith for her future. Wyly also became a main figure to Patty and all the children loved him as a Daddy.
Our ministry to children began to expand into the most violent, poverty and gang-ridden areas of the city. There was so much to do without a team around us at that time. We began working with all the national pastors and leaders in those areas and we began to establish feeding programs and Super Churches for children. During this busy time, we lost touch with the orphanage and little Patty.
When Patty was in ninth grade, we happened to get in touch with her on her birthday and this started a fresh new relationship with her that continues to this day. She and a friend were skipping school with boys and putting provocative photos of themselves on Facebook. Wyly and I got Patty to come to our home for dinner and we talked to her about this. Wyly spoke to her as a loving father would about relationships with boys. This was a point of radical change for Patty, not only in her countenance, but with her manner of dress and her heart was totally changed!
Patty went on to graduate high school with honors and her mother came to the ceremony. Wyly and I were her sponsors and Wyly presented Patty at her graduation. The enemy was still trying to push Patty down and when she inquired of the administrator of the orphanage on what she should do now that she had graduated, the response was, "Pack your suitcase and get out of here." Wyly seemed to have a drive from the Lord to take her into our ministry and to help her with her next steps.
After Patty came to our ministry center to live and work with the Go To Nations team, she blossomed almost beyond recognition! She had found her "sweet spot" telling the lonely orphaned children that they have a Father in heaven and endless love to grow up with. She was baptized that summer and all the sadness of her life left her. She is no longer afraid!
At the age of 22, Patty went to The Teacher's College of Honduras which is a good four-year program to teach kindergarten through ninth grade. Today, she lives with much excitement about her future and serving children with her job. This we know...the devil lost and Jesus is victorious in Patty's life and she will touch many other lives too!
Six months later, my husband Wyly and I came to San Pedro Sula and we were ministering to the children at that orphanage. When we met Patty, she was very malnourished and seldomly spoke a word. She had never been allowed to go to school and her mother and step-father were attempting to get her back so the torment and trauma continued.
Patty was happy to be in the orphanage which was run by a local church, but it was filled with corruption and a religious spirit. She was young, but determined and had a desire to see a better life for herself. As the oldest in the home, she helped with the other children and had learned to be a leader and to handle responsibility, but she never had much guidance or real, caring people around her. She was a Cinderella child–overworked and under-loved. Patty held a special place in my heart and my hugs for her were filled with faith for her future. Wyly also became a main figure to Patty and all the children loved him as a Daddy.
Our ministry to children began to expand into the most violent, poverty and gang-ridden areas of the city. There was so much to do without a team around us at that time. We began working with all the national pastors and leaders in those areas and we began to establish feeding programs and Super Churches for children. During this busy time, we lost touch with the orphanage and little Patty.
When Patty was in ninth grade, we happened to get in touch with her on her birthday and this started a fresh new relationship with her that continues to this day. She and a friend were skipping school with boys and putting provocative photos of themselves on Facebook. Wyly and I got Patty to come to our home for dinner and we talked to her about this. Wyly spoke to her as a loving father would about relationships with boys. This was a point of radical change for Patty, not only in her countenance, but with her manner of dress and her heart was totally changed!
Patty went on to graduate high school with honors and her mother came to the ceremony. Wyly and I were her sponsors and Wyly presented Patty at her graduation. The enemy was still trying to push Patty down and when she inquired of the administrator of the orphanage on what she should do now that she had graduated, the response was, "Pack your suitcase and get out of here." Wyly seemed to have a drive from the Lord to take her into our ministry and to help her with her next steps.
After Patty came to our ministry center to live and work with the Go To Nations team, she blossomed almost beyond recognition! She had found her "sweet spot" telling the lonely orphaned children that they have a Father in heaven and endless love to grow up with. She was baptized that summer and all the sadness of her life left her. She is no longer afraid!
At the age of 22, Patty went to The Teacher's College of Honduras which is a good four-year program to teach kindergarten through ninth grade. Today, she lives with much excitement about her future and serving children with her job. This we know...the devil lost and Jesus is victorious in Patty's life and she will touch many other lives too!