Mending The Scarred

Newsletter | May 2026

We are an organization of women volunteers passionate about reaching out to the broken women affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse or any other type of brokenness in need of mental and emotional healing.

Welcome to May—a month that reminds us that growth is possible even after the hardest winters. Gardens bloom, days grow brighter, and we are reminded that renewal doesn’t happen by chance—it comes when life is nurtured and hope is tended. For women who have endured abuse, this renewal mirrors their journey: each step toward safety and healing is a seed planted for a stronger future. This month also calls us to honor the women who nurture, whether as mothers, mentors, or sisters in faith and friendship. At Mending The Scarred, we walk beside survivors as they rebuild, inviting you to join us in sowing seeds of healing and courage until beauty rises again.

Carmen Alonso, Founder and Executive Director

Living From the Truth, Not the Wound

Renewing the mind becomes lived, not just believed—choosing peace over fear, truth over shame, hope over old lies. This is where faith becomes a shield, guarding our thoughts, because thoughts shape feelings and feelings lead to actions. Each moment of courage becomes quiet defiance against the past.

Faith doesn’t erase wounds—it reframes them. It shows us our worth was never lost, only hidden. In Christ, identity isn’t earned; it’s restored.

That means letting go of old labels—victim, failure, not-enough—and learning to live as beloved, redeemed, whole. Often it looks simple: setting boundaries, accepting kindness, daring to rest in love that doesn’t harm.

God’s Word settles into the cracks of understanding as balm, not theory:
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“He restores my soul.”

Each truth becomes an anchor, helping us remember who we’ve always been in God’s eyes.

Even as we heal, we influence others through compassion, honesty, and faith refined by fire. But healing also calls us to receive what we freely give: grace, gentleness, love.

Identity in Christ isn’t a label—it’s a home we grow into. So let truth settle where pain once lived.

We are not what happened to us. We are who God says we are—and that truth changes everything.

When Truth Lands in a Ready Heart

What would you do with seven hours and the right people around you?

That's not a riddle. It's what happened on March 28th, when women from all four Mending The Scarred chapters gathered at the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park for our annual retreat—Victory Over Affliction. Some traveled over two hours to be there. And every mile was worth it.

The day was thoughtfully organized by our Jacksonville Chapter Co-Directors, Liza O'Connor and Bonne Evans, whose care for every detail—from the atmosphere to the agenda—made the space feel both intentional and deeply safe. This was not a conference. It was not a seminar. It was something harder to name and easier to feel.

Three guest speakers stepped into that space and left nothing behind. Dr. Lillian Moyet brought the kind of wisdom that only comes from years of faith forged in fire. Evangelist Rose Shabaya—a woman who left everything familiar to answer a call most would have politely declined—spoke from a life that proves testimony is the most compelling theology. And Duchess McKnight, entrepreneur, author, and motivational force, reminded every woman in the room that affliction does not get the final word.

It never does.

What you'll see in the 17 collages in our Gallery is a fraction of what the day held. Smiles, yes—but behind them, something quieter and more lasting. You cannot photograph the moment a woman exhales the weight she's been holding for years. You cannot capture in a frame what it looks like when truth lands in a heart that was ready for it. But you can see the faces. And sometimes, that's enough.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." — Psalm 30:5

The morning came for many women that Saturday. We are so grateful they let us be part of it.

Below, we're sharing two of seventeen collages on our gallery:

Daune brought to life a powerful picture of what so many silently experience. Bound in chains at first, she walked the slow journey many know too well—the weight of lies, shame, and false identity. But as truth was spoken—truth about who we are in Christ—those chains didn't just loosen... they fell. What unfolded wasn't a skit; it was a reflection of real transformation. A reminder that freedom doesn't come from striving harder, but from believing what God has already said is true.

Healing Together: Finding Strength in Community

One Calendar, Many Ways to Connect

Gathering in person brings a special kind of strength—sharing a meal, exchanging stories, and finding comfort in each other’s presence. These moments create spaces where women can learn, support one another, and form genuine connections that last well beyond the meeting.

Alongside our in-person gatherings, our weekly online prayer group offers a quiet, welcoming space to grow in faith, share encouragement, and stay connected—right from home, no matter what season of life you’re in.

You can learn more about our gatherings and ongoing programs on our website. However you connect, we hope you know this: you’re part of a community that walks together, listens deeply, and believes in the steady, intentional work of healing.

S.H.A.P.E.

Some questions are quietly powerful—they don’t need quick answers, just space to sit with them for a while.

What has God placed in me that the world actually needs?

Each week, over the course of 14 weeks, women gather on Zoom for one hour—creating a steady, welcoming space to come as you are, connect with others, and grow together. In that time, they explore five ways God has uniquely designed them: their Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences.

Not as a personality test or a self-help exercise, but as an honest, faith-rooted look at the person God had in mind when He made you—held within a community that listens, encourages, and walks alongside you.

The class begins in August, and specific dates and times will be announced as we get closer.

If something in you resonates as you read this—even a small, quiet curiosity—there’s space here for you, just as you are. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin.

Only an open door—and a place waiting for you.

One Message, Many Beautiful Expressions

Across all our Mending The Scarred chapters—in Orlando, Jacksonville, and within our Spanish-speaking community—we continue journeying together through one shared theme.

Though each group has its own rhythm, culture, and personality, the heart behind the message remains beautifully aligned.

Every chapter provides its own flyer with meeting details so women can easily join wherever they feel most at home. And for those who prefer Spanish, our dedicated Spanish chapter explores the same monthly theme completely in Spanish, creating space for connection in the language that resonates most deeply.

Different cities. Different expressions. One shared invitation: to grow through Scripture, reflection, conversation, and the strength that comes from walking together.

This Month's Topic: The Orphaned Heart

Some of us have spent years working for what was always meant to be freely given.

Striving to earn a place. Proving worth that was never in question. It's exhausting—and it's one of the quietest wounds many women carry without ever naming it.

This month, our chapters are exploring what happens when that striving finally stops. When a woman stops performing for love and begins simply receiving it. When belonging is no longer something to be earned—but something she already has, as a beloved daughter of the Father.

Find your chapter's flyer below. Come and discover what changes when you begin to live from that place.

¿Hablas español? | Speak Spanish?

Tema de este mes: El Corazón Huérfano

Algunas de nosotras hemos pasado años trabajando por lo que siempre fue destinado a ser dado libremente.

Esforzándonos por ganarnos un lugar. Demostrando un valor que nunca estuvo en duda. Es agotador—y es una de las heridas más silenciosas que muchas mujeres cargan sin jamás nombrarla.

Este mes, nuestros capítulos exploran lo que sucede cuando ese esfuerzo finalmente se detiene; cuando una mujer deja de actuar para ser aceptada y simplemente comienza a recibir ese amor. Cuando la pertenencia ya no es algo que se gana—sino algo que ya tiene, como hija amada del Padre.

Encuentra aquí el volante del capítulo al que deseas asistir. Ven y descubre lo que cambia cuando empiezas a vivir desde ese lugar de aceptatión.

All Our Gatherings, One View

Our Save the Date! page brings the whole Mending The Scarred community into one place—gathering monthly meetings, recurring events, weekly prayer calls, upcoming themes, WhatsApp groups, and special gatherings into a single, easy-to-follow rhythm.

It’s a simple and meaningful way to see where we’re meeting, what we’re walking through each month, and how you can stay connected—no matter which chapter you call home.

Exciting Ways to Make a Difference

Be the Change: Join Our Mission to Empower Women

Mending the Scarred thrives because of dedicated volunteers like you—individuals with a passion for transforming the lives of women impacted by domestic violence, sexual abuse, and emotional trauma. Together, we can create a brighter future.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

🌸 Community Outreach: Share hope by helping us connect with local schools, churches, and community events, introducing women to the life-changing support of Mending The Scarred.

🌸 Prayer & Intercession Team: Lend your heart and faith by praying for the women we serve and supporting our leadership team through intercession and special events.

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Mending The Scarred

info@mendingthescarred.org

407-484-4544