A Secure Refuge Chris and Kathy Gouzoules Tenancingo, Mexico                      Transforming Pain Into Purpose         Over 85 women attended Secure Refuge conferences and workshops in Tenancingo, Mexico, early October.  Women were challenged to enter a healing process from past wounds and were empowered to live a purposeful future of freedom in Jesus. Friday night found many women weeping, confessing, and receiving prayer to move past lies and wounds that have held them captive their entire lives.     For twenty years Martha's husband has spent his weeks salary getting drunk. Matha from the town of AguaBendita told us that her husband has never given her a penny to feed her family. During the last 20 years, after spending his weeks salary getting drunk, he has routinely beat her. She walks four hours daily with her donkey to sell mountain dirt in Tenancingo to buy tortillas and beans for her many children.  One study on Domestic Violence in Mexico states,    "When a a man comes from a family whose parents beat him, it is common for him to imitate that model and to repeat the abuse. On the other hand, girls learn from their mothers to accept being beaten and humiliated as something normal. (Shadow Report, Mexico, D.F. 2005)    A team of women from Gurnee Il, led by Gretchen Brooks, partnered with Secure Refuge to teach Tenancingo ladies how to start a small business by cutting hair, decorating cakes, sewing and making jewelry.     As the workshops in San Jose were coming to an end, one of the leaders received a call on her cell phone. A lady, Graciela, had just been beaten by her drunken husband. Within minutes Lupita, who is heading up the Secure Refuge home for women,  told me that she would go and take Graciela to the safe house. Lupita, still weeps at times over her own past abuse, but she has not allowed herself to remain a victim. Her pain has been transformed into her purpose.     Women in San Jose learn how to make beautiful, quality bracelets they can then sell to support their families.  Most are single moms whose children attend our weekly tutoring program.   Financial donations can be sent to: WORLD TEAM                                               1431  Stuckert Road                                               Warrington PA 18976.                                 With check earmarked: For Gouzoules' Or you can also with Pay Pal by clicking on the "donate" button!