I went from a tropical country to a cold country. It was like walking into a freezer. I knew some English but people spoke too fast and with a different accent than I was used to, which made the language tough to learn. It was frustrating because I knew I was smart, yet some people looked at me as if I was stupid.
Faith and my children got me through the toughest times. I had grown up as a Catholic and every night I would pray, even though in Honduras the Catholic Church was regarded by many as having too close a tie with the government. My mother’s advice was that when the load is really heavy and you cannot hold it, give it to God. We cannot explain why things happen to us. My faith kept me going in my darkest hours.
I am an optimist and I always count my blessings. For example, I can walk, see, and talk. I have my children, a new husband, and good friends that I can count on. It is important how you face your problems. We have the power to wake up in the morning and decide if that day is one we are going to view as good or miserable. We all have power.
Bio: Nora Lopez's husband was murdered because he was against the government of Honduras in the early 1980s. She left Honduras for Canada, a widow at age 29, with my three children, in June of 1985. Provided with permission by: www.survivingadversity.com
.jpeg)
