Asking God for Help

Karen Elizabeth Navarrete Navarrete

My name is Karen Elizabeth Navarrete Navarrete. I was born December 8, 1994, in Bogotá. My mother, Martha Isabel, has been living with Anselmo Rodríguez for nine years. He is the father of my younger brothers Luís, Laura, and Carlos.

Because Anselmo, my stepfather, sexually abused me since I was five years old, I am now at the Girls’ Home.

I remember that many times when I returned from school and was doing my homework he would ask my brothers to go to the store and then, when I was alone he began bothering me and touching me. I was so scared. He made me feel bad and dirty, but he threatened me each time that if I dared to tell anyone about what was going on, he would do something very bad to my brother.

Once, I got the courage to tell my mother, but she didn’t believe me. I thought that by telling her I would be safe, but that day she beat me and accused me of lying. Because of that, I decided to kill myself and jumped from a balcony. Fortunately I only got a bit bruised.

My behavior worsened. I was aggressive and would hit anyone who would do something that I did not like. Eventually I told everything to a psychologist who got involved in my case. He informed my mother about what was happening. She appeared to be in shock in front of the people from school, but then when we went home she beat me again. I then took some money from her money box and ran away to my grandmother’s house. I told her everything that was going on.

Thanks to my grandmother I am now living at CDA’s Girls’ Home, but it was very difficult to adapt to this place and to the people. When I arrived at the home I used to hit the girls and even the adults. I always tried to do things my way and went against all the rules. Because of all that had happened to me, I wanted to be alone and was not nice to my classmates and to the other girls. Sometimes I cry and feel very bad because all that happened to me for so many years comes back like to me a nightmare and causes me great pain.

I heard my mother is now living with Anselmo again; that makes me feel terribly sad and angry. She prefers him over me. So whenever I go home, I do not return to my mother but go to my grandmother’s house. Who knows if the police will ever get him.

Every day I ask God to heal the great wounds of my heart, to help me forgive, and to make me a better person. I understand I am here because God cares about me and wants to protect, restore, and transform my life into a new one according to His holy and perfect purpose.