Cherished Mothers in the Father's Arms

From the Father's embrace is born a beloved daughter and a restored mother.

That was the theme of our 2025 Mother's Day celebration, made possible through a beautiful partnership with Casa de Libertad and their women's ministry.

Many of the families we serve live incredibly hard lives marked by poverty, trauma, and instability. It's often the mothers, especially single mothers, who bear the greatest weight. Whether facing abandonment, grief, or generational cycles of hardship, these women fight daily to hold their families together. Over the years, we've seen just how essential it is to not only serve children but to pour into their mothers as well. When a mother is supported, an entire family is uplifted.

This year, more than 70 mothers from our after-school programs were welcomed like honored guests. They arrived at a beautifully decorated church, were greeted warmly by volunteers, joined in joyful games with prizes and enjoyed a catered breakfast, complete with a raffle that sparked plenty of excitement.

The heart of the event came through a powerful message from guest speaker Mónica De Polanco, centered on Psalm 68:5 "A father to the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling place."  She shared how God longs to restore every woman through His perfect love. We then had a time of worship that gave mothers space to reflect and respond. As the music played, women were invited forward for prayer. Many stood, some for the first time, to let go of long-held burdens, including father-related wounds, pain from the past and unforgiveness. Surrounded by the church's women's ministry, they received prayer and encouragement. One mother later described it as "the best gift I could have received."

The morning ended with more games, laughter, and each mother receiving a thoughtful gift to take home, reminders that they are deeply loved and cherished by a Heavenly Father who never lets go.

A Day to Remember

Our mothers were greeted with warmth and treated to a beautiful breakfast, joyful music, and time to relax and connect with one another. "From the moment I entered, I could tell that every detail had been prepared with love and dedication," shared María Elena, a mother from Santa Fe. "Sharing with other mothers, laughing, hearing words of encouragement, and feeling valued filled my heart with indescribable joy."

Mothers who carry heavy daily responsibilities found space to breathe and be filled. "It was truly a special time where mothers disconnected from the daily hustle," shared teacher Sucely Jiménez. "Many rarely take time for themselves, and seeing them laugh and connect with God reminded me how long they long to be seen and heard."

For some, the event provided spiritual healing and release. "The message helped me let go of years of bitterness," said María Elena. "Now I feel free of that burden. I am blessed and determined to move forward, holding on to the freedom that only God can give."

Amanda shared how the message deeply resonated with her childhood. "I identified with the speaker's story. My Father was absent, and I carried pain from that. But now that he's reaching out, I want to forgive him, just as God forgives us."

Moments of Connection and Renewal

Azucena Marisol, a mother of three, wrote, "This Mother's Day was a blessed experience. We connected with God, listened to inspiring testimonies and enjoyed a warm breakfast that opened the way for meaningful conversations. The Word of God was so powerful and there were moments of healing in the hearts of many mothers. We enjoyed games, gifts, praise and worship that reminded us that we are daughters of a loving Father."

Another mother, Rosa Isabel, was moved by the realization of how her daughter's life had been shaped by the loss of her Father. "The message helped me see my daughter through eyes of mercy and recognize how vital it is for me to walk with her through this pain."

For Erika, the experience was nothing short of surprising: "It was a great blessing and joy to share such a united day with the mothers from my community. Everything was unexpected and so thoughtful, from the sermon to the breakfast, decorations, and gifts. The worship songs were also a huge blessing."

Irma expressed a renewed sense of joy: "The Word of God that was shared filled me with joy and strength. We laughed, connected with other mothers, and left with a sense of renewed purpose."

Aury added, "It was a beautiful and special day. I enjoyed meeting new moms and making friends. The gifts, the food, the message, everything was lovely. I'm personally very grateful."

Gratitude from the Heart

The generosity and care shown by Casa de Libertad was felt in every moment. Cadaniño Coordinator Eduardo Lux summed it up best: "Their ministry created an atmosphere of joy and healing. So many of the mothers we serve carry heavy burdens. That day, they received encouragement, strength and hope through the Word and the selfless service of others. When Mónica shared her personal testimony, I could see that it deeply impacted many of the mothers, and her words offered light to women who needed it most."

Another one of our teachers said "These moms show up every day for their families. Seeing them worship, laugh, and be uplifted reminded me that even the strongest need to be filled. Witnessing so many women reconnecting with their value as daughters of God was powerful and beautiful."

Empowering Families, Transforming Communities

This event was more than a celebration; it was a tangible expression of what Cadaniño stands for, loving, supporting and walking alongside families in need. Supporting mothers is not a side project. It is central to building strong, healthy families that can provide safe, loving homes for the children we serve through our after-school programs.

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When you support Cadaniño, you are doing more than helping children succeed in school. You are standing with families. You are creating spaces of healing, hope and transformation. You are investing in the kind of change that reshapes communities from the inside out—one mother, one child, one family at a time.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Moments like these are why Cadaniño exists. We are committed not only to walking alongside children but to empowering families. When we support a mother, we uplift a family. And when we strengthen families, we transform communities.

Thank you to each of you who support our work. You make moments like these possible. May God bless you as richly in how he knows you need it most.

With deep gratitude,

Timothy Martiny

President, Cadaniño

Partner with Cadaniño today and impact lives for eternity!

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