A Personal Message From Fabiana

My name is Fabiana Quiñones. I’m 20 years old. My birthday is on Sept 28. My mom died when I was 4. My dad is absent in my life. I’ve never met him until last year and I don’t have any communication with him after that.

My grandpa took care of me for 15 years after my mom died but I couldn’t continue to live with him because his wife has never accepted my brothers and me because we are not her grandchildren. I swear she was trying hard to make my life impossible. I was miserable and I couldn’t stand it anymore. So one day I left their house and tried to be on my own. But I didn’t have other home to go to, it was very difficult for me to survive. It’s very hard to get a job and good salary in Guatemala, especially when you do not have the support of anyone.

I finally found a job at a fast-food restaurant early this year that was up the street from Rocsana’s Hope. I saw Esther one day when she was buying Chinese food next door to my work. I wanted to talk with her, but I was afraid she wouldn’t understand my English. I finally decided to talk to her. I was a little shy, but she understood almost everything I was trying to tell her. I told her I was taking free painting and English classes at the local Community Center. She said she would like to be my friend, so I can practice my English with her. We exchanged WhatsApp and Facebook info and we started talking to each other almost every day after that.

One day Esther told me something about a place where they will help girls like me. But I wasn’t interested at first because I thought it was like a boarding school. I was in boarding schools my whole life and I didn’t want to be in boarding school again, so I told her I appreciate her trying to help me but no thanks…

Two weeks after that I lost my job because my boss was threatened by the gang people who demanded a large sum of money. They said if we do not give them the money, they will kill everyone that works there. My boss got scared because she has a son, so she closed the restaurant immediately. I started looking for other job, but I couldn’t find anyone who would hire me, and life had become very difficult for me. I was about to be homeless because the place I was staying at the time will soon not be available for me anymore and for weeks, I don’t have any water in the house because I don’t have money to pay for water.

Esther took a lot of interest in me and she asked me about my life often, so I told her and my situation. She told me there is a reason why we met. She asked me to come hang out at RH so I can learn more English and it would help me to find work. On May 17, Esther invited me to RH’s Open House. She explained to me again what RH was about. I met Jeff and Papa Stan, Mama Denise and Denise’s parents, Allen and Janice Seimears, and Cristina Gulotta (Mama Denise’s parents and Cristina were here to visit.) Everyone was very nice to me. They gave me food and I made cakes and pies with Mama Denise’s Dad. It was very fun! That day, I shared with Papa Stan about my situation and he told me he would be very happy to help me. And so..4 days later. I am here at Rocana’s Hope.

I’m very grateful for God because He puts Esther in my life. I am grateful for everyone at Rocsana’s Hope for giving me a loving family, happiness, love, the opportunity to continue to study and especially they help me to know and follow God.