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The development of activity in the Women's Village facility located in the city of Trujillo has been agonizingly slow. After a highly visible and successful grand opening in November 2009, only nine women (with children) have stayed in the facility and taken advantage of the nutritional, physical, psychological, spiritual benefits provided there. But, activity seems to be picking up, probably as a result of Mara and Deysi's seminars (discussed later) and work with the courts, the C.E.M (Emergency Center for Women) and the police. There were two women in the facility for a short time in January, both suffering from physical and psychological abuse (one of them was eventually baptized and returned to an improved relationship with her husband), one teenage girl in February, suffering from sexual abuse, two adult women in April and one in May suffering from physical and psychological abuse and three in July, one a young adult woman suffering from physical and psychological abuse and two teenage sisters suffering from sexual abuse by their father.
The two sisters are an interesting but very sad story. One is 20 and the other is 15. The twenty year old has been required to have sex with her father since she was 10 years old. The 15 year old has been in that predicament since age 12. The mother, who under our expectations should be protecting the girls, sides with the father. But guess what, he is physically abusing the mother too, so what else can we expect? The abused girls stayed in the Villa for ten days and then returned home. The abuser is absent and awaiting trial for his crimes.
We believe that the cause of the slow growth in use of the facilities is threefold: First, the concept is countercultural in a society where a machismo attitude prevails heavily; second, the location in the city limits of Trujillo, in a busy area, keeps women from coming on their own volition because of the "shame" aspect (most of the women are from the barrios and the city is a naturally intimidating place anyhow); and third, the bureaucracy in all the government agencies puts up roadblock after roadblock, from the courts, to the C.E.M., the police, the family courts etcetera.
So, what are we doing about these three problems? For the first problem, Mara and Deysi, the only paid workers on the Villa staff, hold numerous seminars with government agencies, organizations designed to protect women, passing out flyers on the street and even going to soup kitchens now (56 of them available for Daysi's focus). They also meet with groups of women to explain their rights to them to overcome the age old fear.
For the second problem, the Mayor of Trujillo has become involved and promised a half acre of land in one of the barrios to which the project administers its efforts. This has been promised for over a month, awaiting only the approval by the city council. Mara is working with the members of the city council to encourage their favorable vote. While nothing is certain in a political environment, we believe that the mayor's generosity will be approved within the next month or so. Then, the mayor will also provide engineers and planners to help with the design and approval of the building to put on the land. More on all this later as more information becomes available.
For the third problem, only relentless efforts and time will solve this problem along with a close association with the mayor's office, the family courts and other agencies. Personal contact and a good history of results will be a strong factor too. One day, we hope to be the first thing that comes to the minds of the officials who should be sending the women to us and then we will see exponential growth and fantastic results, all to the glory of our God.
Please pray for strength, patience, energy, focus and success for Mara, Deysi and Dani in their ongoing efforts.
The two sisters are an interesting but very sad story. One is 20 and the other is 15. The twenty year old has been required to have sex with her father since she was 10 years old. The 15 year old has been in that predicament since age 12. The mother, who under our expectations should be protecting the girls, sides with the father. But guess what, he is physically abusing the mother too, so what else can we expect? The abused girls stayed in the Villa for ten days and then returned home. The abuser is absent and awaiting trial for his crimes.
We believe that the cause of the slow growth in use of the facilities is threefold: First, the concept is countercultural in a society where a machismo attitude prevails heavily; second, the location in the city limits of Trujillo, in a busy area, keeps women from coming on their own volition because of the "shame" aspect (most of the women are from the barrios and the city is a naturally intimidating place anyhow); and third, the bureaucracy in all the government agencies puts up roadblock after roadblock, from the courts, to the C.E.M., the police, the family courts etcetera.
So, what are we doing about these three problems? For the first problem, Mara and Deysi, the only paid workers on the Villa staff, hold numerous seminars with government agencies, organizations designed to protect women, passing out flyers on the street and even going to soup kitchens now (56 of them available for Daysi's focus). They also meet with groups of women to explain their rights to them to overcome the age old fear.
For the second problem, the Mayor of Trujillo has become involved and promised a half acre of land in one of the barrios to which the project administers its efforts. This has been promised for over a month, awaiting only the approval by the city council. Mara is working with the members of the city council to encourage their favorable vote. While nothing is certain in a political environment, we believe that the mayor's generosity will be approved within the next month or so. Then, the mayor will also provide engineers and planners to help with the design and approval of the building to put on the land. More on all this later as more information becomes available.
For the third problem, only relentless efforts and time will solve this problem along with a close association with the mayor's office, the family courts and other agencies. Personal contact and a good history of results will be a strong factor too. One day, we hope to be the first thing that comes to the minds of the officials who should be sending the women to us and then we will see exponential growth and fantastic results, all to the glory of our God.
Please pray for strength, patience, energy, focus and success for Mara, Deysi and Dani in their ongoing efforts.
