My dad was about sixteen years old when his mom gave him this necklace. She gave it to him when my dad got very sick because he got the flu. This happened when he was still living in Mexico. My dad received the necklace when he was in the hospital. The necklace was hers primarily, but she felt that he needed it more than her, so she willingly gave it to him to protect him through this tough time. My dad, in his bad condition, said that he felt much better only about a day after he started praying and asking for guidance. He saw that the Mother Mary helped him through this time and he started to believe in all of this religion talk that had sounded so crazy to him at the time. Soon after my dad recovered, he started going to the church more often and kept the necklace ever since. In addition to him becoming very religious, he also has never returned to the hospital since he got out about thirty years ago. Perhaps in the future, my dad will give the necklace to me if I ever seriously need it. However, he might give it to one of my siblings because I do have another three siblings that might need some help as well. He said that maybe when he doesn’t need it, he will give it to me. I hope that if I get to keep it I will be able to become such a good Catholic like my dad was after he witnessed what the power of faith can do. Also, I hope that the necklace lasts for a very long time. It has been kept in very well condition, so I will probably have to take some extra measures to keep it preserved and neat for when it comes for other people to use it.   

– Rudy V.

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant