Mama Tina: A Grandmother in Transformation

Every morning, Mami Tina, as Ian Cálix calls his great-grandmother, walks 40 minutes to church with her three-year-old son. She is convinced her sacrifice is worth it because participating in the program is so beneficial for her great-grandson. Since the boy was five months old, she arrives every day to drop him off and bring him back punctually. In 2024, Ian earned an honorable mention for the most responsible participant, thanks to this grandmother's efforts.

Alba Argentina Amador is the great-grandmother who has lovingly assumed this responsibility, due to the tragic event that Ian lost his mother when he was just two months old. Tina is a woman whose life story has been marked by a series of tragedies that have taken many family members away from her, experiences that have filled her with great pain and anger toward life.

She came to the program expressing her anger, hopelessness, and pain. But after receiving daily care in the program, sharing the love of Jesus with her, affirming her self-esteem, and getting her to

participate in the Coffee Afternoons, even though she initially refused to attend, her change has been remarkable. Her participation in the "Growing with Love" Workshop was very helpful. In this space, she was able to reflect on her way of treating her family members, and notable changes can be observed in her life.

Mami Tina challenges us every day to move forward, amidst adversity. Her discipline and commitment to Ian's comprehensive education is a wonderful example of struggle and perseverance. With tears in her eyes, she shares with us that her desire is for Ian to be a good man. Furthermore, she teaches us that it is never too late to make our community's motto verse a reality: Change your way of thinking, to change your way of living.