I believe that I was born on the second of April. This is my story. My name is Olinda Quispe Ochoa, but I’m not sure of the date. They gave me the name Olinda to make fun of me since I looked like a loud-mouthed woman with the same name. These things happened because my father died when I was two months old. Six months later my mother left me and my sisters, and went to the capital with another man.
That is why I don’t really have a name and don’t know how old I am. My sisters looked after me with the help of some neighbors. A few years later I found out the story; I met my real mother. But I felt horrible, and I grew up with deep resentment, without love and caring, and we lived in extreme poverty. Ever since I was little, I would make things, dolls with embroidery, and straw houses. And so I got married and began to work in the capital. I went into partnership with a friend. At the beginning I was happy, I had work, even made things for export to Venezuela.
Then because of my lack of experience, we went broke. I made a bad investment, the bank began to pressure me, I couldn’t pay them, and things got worse. I hid away for a month, crying. I also had problems with my partner, he left, and I was crushed. I thought “here I am a good wife, a good orker, I go to mass and this happens.”
I no longer believed in God. For me, He did not exist. Mr Narciso told me of the sewing course and signed me up, and then I met Pastor Rocio who spoke of God. Then she told me of someone who loved me, would give my errors, and I could trust him. I began to cry, and received the Lord as my
savior.
I’m grateful to God that be brought Pastor Rocio to me. Thanks to his teaching I forgave my
mother and changed my life around. Now, thanks to the Neufeld foundation, I am preparing to open
my business, this time with people who are trained and will help prepare me, businessmen
and leadership teachers. I learned that in business, quality, responsibility, and punctuality
are elemental to success. My greetings and thanks to all who are reading my story
Friday, May 18th the students will be graduating from the Sewing for Life. Mayor of Manchay, Jack Neufeld, Alvina Neufeld, Ken Fast, Nolly Mercado will be in attendance. If you would please remember them in your thoughts and prayers.
Nolly and Marlene are in Peru until December 10th. Nolly met with Javier today to discuss the areas that Javier will be training the families. The training involves such things as water conversation, nutrition, and climate. They will be launching the program this weekend.
The Neufeld Foundation is excited to begin to work with Javier and Ismenia our agriculture program leaders for our Gardens for Life program. Javier is a horticulturist and is responsible for the green areas at the University of Lima. In his gardening business his wife, Ismenia works with him as a partner. Ismenia is working towards her certificate in our Stitches for Life program. Their girl Angela is 12 years old and their second daughter Viriana is 3 years old. We are excited to begin the agriculture training program on Dec 1st , 2011 in our training center in Manchay, Peru.