Heidi is a single mother of two living in Costa Rica, whose top priority is caring for her children. As a refugee from Nicaragua, Heidi has made many sacrifices to meet her family’s basic needs, including working all day to earn enough to afford rent. Although this schedule was physically and emotionally taxing, Heidi did not see any other options to provide for her children.
For much of her childhood, Heidi’s daughter, Alexa, would spend the afternoons and evenings alone with her brother, waiting for their mom to come home at night. This family of three shared one bedroom in a two-bedroom home, and another single mom and her two children shared the other bedroom. While the small house was overcrowded and the days for Alexa and her brother were lonely, this was their normal life, and they found a way to make it work.
One More Child’s ministry partner in Costa Rica realized Alexa and her brother were spending many hours alone and decided to help. As a sponsored child, Alexa and her family were already receiving tangible support that sustained their health and well-being, but they were not participating in additional opportunities provided by the ministry. TRANSFORMA developed pathways for Alexa and her brother to get involved in the ministry’s mentoring program, youth groups, and special activities. Alexa joined a group for refugee and migrant girls, which has helped grow her identity, foster spiritual engagement, and cultivate meaningful friendships with other girls her age.
As the situation for Alexa and her brother improved, their mother experienced a sudden, stressful change. Their neighborhood was becoming more dangerous due to drug lords, and Heidi was making very little money in her job as a housekeeper. These factors combined led to Heidi quitting her job to look for another part-time job and start a home-based business so she could be closer to her children.
Heidi started a small sale of everyday items and food from her doorstep to provide for her children—this is a safer option that also allows her to be home more often with her children. One More Child and our ministry partner are working alongside Heidi in this new venture, equipping her with skills and resources that will help her succeed.
"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." Psalm 40:1-2 (NLT)
It is an honor to partner with families as they strive to build brighter futures. Heidi and her children have more opportunities now than they could have previously imagined. With the support from One More Child and our partner ministry, Heidi is able to meet her family’s needs, prioritize safety and stability, and spend quality time with her children.