This is the story shared by Emeteria Castillo, Doña Tella, with her group of Las Guerreras del Norte, during a summer long mural project at Centro Tyrone Guzman in Minneapolis. She chose to be photographed with her guitar because it represents “the joy with which I pray to the Lord.” Originally from Choluteca, Honduras, Doña Tella learned how to play the guitar by listening and observing other musicians play. Every time musicians came to town she would get very close, “muy cerquita”, to watch and learn from them. In Tegucigalpa, during a gathering of international Catholic groups, she asked the Lord to grant her the gift of music. She has been living for 20 years in the United States. She has been playing and singing for the Lord since then. She played an electric guitar in Los Angeles at the Catholic Church of the Inmaculada Concepción. She also learned how to play the bass and the piano with the help of her “compañeras” from the church. Later, her son gifted her with an acoustic Yamaha guitar for her birthday. When she moved to Minnesota in 2000, she bought herself a piano and became a member of the St. Stevens Church in Minneapolis. She created a church choir with more than 20 members and also a prayer group. Doña Tella has a new prayer group created with the help of friends from Puerto Rico in the Holy Rosary Church. When Doña Tella plays one of her musical instruments she feels happy. She said, “no matter where you are or live, music is the best medicine for the soul.” 

– Emeteria Castillo

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant