A Year in Review - Nidia Linardes Martinez

I left El Salvador on August 20, last year to start my time with the YAV program and I have had many challenges since that day, but today I can say that God has always been with me and has provided what is necessary for my life.
 
Among the challenges that I have lived these past 7 months are the language, because English is not my first language and I have come here to learn more by practicing it. 
 
Also, my legal status here in the United States has also been a challenge, because right now for example I cannot leave the country due to the process of an application to extend the permit they gave me to be here, that means that I cannot cross even to Mexico or worse, I cannot visit my family in El Salvador either and it has been difficult to be alone without having my family or my friends here.
 
I have had to learn many new things, how to ride a bike, learn to know the public transportation in Tucson and learn how to use it, learn the bus routes so I don't get lost and if I get lost, look for solutions to get where I need to go.
 
I have had to learn to survive a lot of mice at home, and even though I am currently living with other people for the same reason, I think things are going to get better.
 
Also at CHRPA, my place of service we do a lot of things like plumbing, carpentry, electrical stuff and a lot more all of this for low-income people in Tucson or Pima County. I've had to lift very heavy things or I've had to crawl in very small places for example, things I've never done before.
 
Anyway, it seems that there have been many challenges and I could keep talking about those hard things but there has also been hope and even though it has been difficult or I have cried so many times or I have wanted to go back home to El Salvador, here I am because I feel in my heart that what we have been doing for others it’s so worthy because those clients who we work for, they have shown me kindness, compassion and empathy, because even with their own hard situations, who in spite of having almost nothing, they are able to share with me their food or a powerade or water.
 
I have also felt God’s love in those friends I have made at work or in my church, because if I need something and if they know that they can help me they do not even hesitate to do so. 
 
So yeah it can be really hard, but one thing I am sure of is that God is with me all the time, walks with me and takes me by the hand.