We recently asked Caren to tell us about what she does for fun with her friends, and she sent the following message. It is a great reminder of the similar things that all teenage girls deal with, and that despite our differences we have so much in common.
Caren with one of her closest friends, Alejandra
A girl my age in Colombia is facing new responsibilities to help our parents, work to help to get our family’s needs met, and study hard in school. Many of us have big goals academically. In my case and many of the girls who know God, we hope to serve Him along with discovering the world.
When we keep our eyes on God, we find many fun things to do. It’s fun to work together because we can help each other and it is fun to learn from each other, according to our different gifts.
We like to eat ice cream and go to movies. Sometimes when we don’t have money, we share our resources and watch the movie at home. We also love to dance and sing.
However many other girls my age seek enjoyment in negative things, such as drinking and dancing at adult clubs. Seeing all this is very sad, but I remember that it can be easy to be influenced by negative people. So I pray daily that God would help my friends and I be salt and light to help other girls.
Matthew 5:13-16 says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We pray that God would continue to guide Caren and her friends and use them to draw others to Him.
