Autumn Marks the Passage of a Year of Growth for Affirmation Venezuela

In some parts of the world, as the year draws to a close, autumn brings the falling of leaves. Here in Venezuela, as a tropical country set aside the deepest blue waters of the Caribbean, we don’t experience the same type of autumn. Though, autumn does appear on our calendars. Pictured is the continuous falling of leaves, perhaps representing the days of the year that have passed, the lessons we have learned, and the pieces of wisdom we have gained.

For Affirmation Venezuela, this has been a year of unforgettable, comforting activities. In September, we heard from psychologist Michelle Fuentes about the power of forgiveness in headling the soul. Those who participated were able to confront old wounds, and focus on healing and moving past the pain, as we believe Christ would want us to do.

Last month, in October, we focused on the impact of gratitude in our lives and participated in an activity led by family psychotherapist and counselor Yriz Ruiz Piñeiro. This was a transformative experience for all involved. We found value in counting every blessing we have been given by our Heavenly Father, as his precious children. By acknowledging the value of our blessings, we found more faith and confidence in the future. This month, we’ve sought to be visible in our activism in our community, seeking the recognition of LGBTQIA+ people in Venezuela. This work continues to impact and transform the lives of many valuable souls and hearts. We are a community full of diversity, gifts, and talents, a colorful spectrum that deserves to shine as a light to the world.

Our hope and prayer are that every person within the LGBTQIA+ community whose heart has been wounded may heal through the refuge of love Affirmation Venezuela seeks to provide, where all may find solidarity and appreciation of learning. This is a mission that we believe has been entrusted to us by our Heavenly Father at this time. We may face many challenges, but we can turn these challenges into opportunities to be stronger and more perfect. We will remember this growth each autumn, and harvest the many wonderful fruits of our labor granted from above.