Maribel’s Story

Before knowing about Vagabond, Maribel’s life felt empty. She’d just stay home in her room doing absolutely nothing, since venturing outside her bedroom walls involved a lot of conflict and yelling.

For the past two years, Vagabond and the youth center has been more than a place Maribel visits; it has become a safe place where she feels supported. The missionaries and volunteers have met her with understanding and compassion, especially when she struggles to open up to her own family. Now she is often found reading her Bible and learning more about the Catholic faith. In 2023, she felt drawn to Catholicism, and she began OCIA classes this year. Maribel told Sarah, her missionary, “I want to become Catholic because I feel a deep longing for true happiness and authentic love. I believe that by fully committing to the faith, I will find a joy and love that is not momentary but long-lasting and transformative, rooted in something eternal.” Now she has a good reason to leave her room: to learn more about Jesus with the help of the missionaries.

Knowing they will continue to walk with her on this journey reassures Maribel that she is not alone, and for that she is deeply grateful.