A teachers story

Changing course 

Have you ever thought about changing course? You will likely answer yes, but you have been wondering if instead of deciding for yourself, life circumstances force you to change. 

This may have happened to some and others take this journey as a goal in their lives to improve. However, when we experience challenges, we only have two paths: letting ourselves fall or taking them to grow and keep moving forward. 

This is precisely what I want to express in this article, an experience that helped me understand the value of going through difficulties and becoming more capable and prepared disciples. 

My story is just one of many Venezuelans who have been able to overcome obstacles and increase faith with each step we take. 

Leaving a treasured profession 

I studied a university degree in Education, because it was my only option at the time. In the course of my career I discovered that that was my vocation, to teach others. 

After graduating I started working in private schools, it was a thrill for me to have that first contact with the children. Seeing their occurrences and different personalities captivated me from the beginning. 

Then I left the private sector to work in public schools, by then it was a better job option. The change was radical to be able to be with low-income children and understand their educational needs. 

Still, I was very happy to work with them, each day was a new learning for me. I spent more than 12 years in the service of education and I feel that it was a valuable time for me. 

A test of resilience

The situation in my country became so tough that this profession was no longer helping me support my family. In addition, I saw how so many children went hungry every day and was in contact with those hardships all the time. It was not easy to see the suffering of many children. 

Many fainted in the classroom, others did not attend due to lack of food and that was a constant.

I began to feel anguish and depression about this situation and as a result the skin on my hands became rough. It was something strange, which gradually became more serious. I could no longer cook or even bathe, much less touch any cleaning product. 

There began a drastic change in my life. I visited many doctors and none of them gave me an accurate diagnosis. Until I went to a specialist who performed some tests to detect the cause of my condition. 

After a long wait I learned that I was developing palmoplantar psoriasis, a disease that alters the skin tissue. This was aggravated by more than two years in which I could not do my housework. Receive help from many people including my family.

This caused that I could not continue working at the school, they gave me temporary and then permanent disability. After sending myself home and doing some treatments I started to get better. 

While this was happening I was at home feeling worthless and missing the children very much. But he knew he had to do something to avoid experiencing those feelings, because it was something that triggered the disease. 

So I decided to put my future career in the hands of my heavenly Father. I prayed for inspiration and revelation, but felt like I was aimless and couldn’t find it. 

Not knowing what to expect, I was determined to do anything to continue my learning in this life. On some occasions I helped my colleagues to carry out research work and although it was something I did not like to do, everyone told me that I was good at it. 

However, I kept insisting that I didn’t want to develop my writing skills. I was totally reluctant to experiment in that area. 

But something changed my perspective when I started looking for courses online. Note that there were many possibilities of generating income by writing for web pages. At first it did not attract my attention, but little by little I discovered all the opportunities that I could access. 

One day I decided to show my talents and I dared to contact a person from Mexico who was requesting editors. I did a test and to my surprise I was selected. 

He worked writing scripts for YouTube channels. Then I started to gain more experience and to get more international clients. Although I did not know many things yet, it seems that Heavenly Father was preparing my way. 

In an environment of so much competition in this area, I found many opportunities to learn and work at the same time. I was able to meet great people who helped me develop my skills and learn about digital channels. I still don’t understand why these people decided to believe in me, but without a doubt, I know that the Lord’s hand was in them. 

I could not believe what was happening to me, because every time I found more and more clients. I did not know how to meet so much demand, so I decided to teach other people and form a work team. 

It was a way to serve others and at the same time give him opportunities to generate income and enter the freelance world. Many of them followed this path and that gives me great satisfaction. Know that through my knowledge they asked to start their business. 

Growth in the midst of challenges

I never imagined that I could progress in my own business. But it was a reality, he was succeeding. 

Eventually I decided to partner with a friend to form a writing agency. It was an excellent idea, because we communicate very well and have the same values ​​and principles. 

However, the challenges never fail to be present. It could no longer serve more customers because it needed more advanced computer equipment. 

In my country it is almost impossible to buy a computer, it is practically to decide between buying food or the equipment. My work was being affected by the lack of this resource, my computer was already crashed and did not support new updates. 

Every day I asked my heavenly Father to help me do my work and that my computer could work properly. I was desperate and felt that I would not be able to continue, sometimes I wanted to leave and do something else. 

Difficulties with internet service also added to my shortcomings. I wondered why Heavenly Father had given me the opportunity to develop these skills, without having the appropriate resources to do so. But I understood that the more knowledge we get, the more we will be prepared to face any challenge. 

After so much research and accounts, it became impossible for me to buy a new computer. So I continued doing my work on my old PC. 

But I didn’t know I could ask for outside help so I found Operation family Freedom. A foundation that gave me my hand when I needed it most, I decided to write to you and tell my story. 

They were very attentive in explaining their aid modality to me and I agreed to do so. Thanks to them I was able to buy a new computer and I have been able to progress faster, because now I have advanced equipment. 

I feel that Heavenly Father has worked in me to be self-reliant, but I also know that He has touched the hearts of the founders of Operation Family Freedom in this remarkable work. 

Blessings multiplied

Now that I have this team, I feel like I can bless other people. Mainly to my family, my parents and the members of the church. 

This equipment has not only served me in my work, I also use it for my BYU Idaho live studies and to fulfill my calling as a self-reliance specialist. 

I am very grateful because I know that Heavenly Father has other plans for me that I may not be aware of. Now I can understand that each challenge was to open my vision and develop my divine potential. 

Operation family Freedom has been a great blessing to me. Not only that, it also reaches out to other people who receive my food aid every month. 

My passion is writing and I will continue to strengthen this talent to achieve my self-sufficiency in a country that makes the path more difficult for us. But I know that there is something better for me and my family in the future. 

 Reyna Luces,

Mrs. Luces is looking for any opportunities to utilize her freelancing skills and can be contracted via email at Reynaluces1986@gmail.com>