Mending The Scarred

Newsletter | January 2027

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 a new year! Whether you're stepping into it with hope, uncertainty, or simply taking one day at a time, know that you don't have to walk the journey alone. My prayer is that this year brings renewed hope, lasting healing, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing God is faithfully working—even in the places where change is not yet visible.

Carmen Alonso, Founder and Executive Director

Who Is Knocking at My Door?

Starting the New Year With a Healthier Thought Life

A new year often brings new intentions: This year I want to think differently. I want more peace. I want to stop being ruled by fear, guilt, or discouragement.

But what if the goal isn't to never have a troubling thought? What if the real question is: What do you do when the thought knocks?

Scripture does not tell us that troubling thoughts will never arise. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to cast down imaginations and bring our thoughts into the obedience of Christ. The command assumes there will be something to confront.

Think of your mind as a gate. Thoughts will knock. Fear may knock. Doubt may knock. Guilt may knock. Discouragement may arrive with what sounds like convincing evidence.

The knock itself is not the failure. What we do with it matters.

And there is another important truth: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). If you recognize that you have entertained a thought you shouldn't have, don't compound the struggle by condemning yourself. Recognize it. Reject it by turning your attention back to what is true.

But how do we become better gatekeepers?

We feed our inner life with God's Word.

Reading Scripture gives us knowledge, but meditating on it allows truth to become deeply rooted in us. Think of eating a meal: looking at food isn't the same as receiving nourishment from it.

In the same way, God's Word is meant to move beyond something we merely read and become something we know, believe, and live.

Joshua 1:8 and Romans 12:2 point us toward this renewing process.

So, as 2027 begins, try something simple: take one verse and stay with it. Read it. Speak it. Think about what it means. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and apply it. Then, when fear or discouragement knocks, you will have truth ready at the gate.

And remember: you don't have to do this perfectly. You have to keep showing up.

A temporary failure doesn't erase what God has been building in you. Start again. Feed your inner man again. Stand again.

Consistency over intensity. Persistence over perfection.

This year, don't simply listen to every thought that knocks.

Thoughts will knock. You get to decide who enters.

When Safety Becomes the Beginning of Healing

What happens after a woman finds the courage to leave an unsafe or destructive situation?

A vision for Beauty for Ashes Transitional Home — a peaceful transitional place where women and their children can rebuild their lives after trauma.

We believe restoration happens in many ways. Sometimes it begins with a safe room. Sometimes with someone who listens. Sometimes with practical help, encouragement, prayer, or simply the experience of being surrounded by people who believe that your story is not over.

And perhaps this is where all of us can become part of the story.

We don't have to do everything. We can simply do something.

A gift, a monthly commitment, a partnership, sharing the vision with others, or even praying intentionally for the women who will one day find refuge there—all of these are ways we can help turn this vision of refuge and renewal a reality.

Because sometimes, a new beginning needs a safe place to begin.

Healing Together: Strength Found in Community

Healing was never meant to be walked alone.

There is something deeply grounding about sitting in a room with others who understand, where stories are shared without judgment, and silence can feel just as supportive as words. In those moments—over a shared meal, a conversation, or even a simple smile—something begins to shift. Isolation loosens its grip, and connection starts to take its place.

Our in-person gatherings offer that kind of space: a place to slow down, be present, and experience the steady reminder that you are not walking this journey alone. Over time, these moments become more than meetings—they become relationships, encouragement, and a quiet rebuilding of trust in community.

At the same time, life does not always make it easy to gather in person. That is why our weekly online prayer group exists—to provide a consistent space of support and spiritual grounding, wherever you are. It is a time to pause, pray together, and find encouragement in the middle of real life, even in busy or difficult seasons.

Different settings, same heart: connection, healing, and the reminder that restoration often happens in community.

Connections in Motion: Where Healing Meets Community

Throughout every Mending The Scarred chapter, women continue gathering each month to find encouragement, deeper connection, and space to grow together.

Each chapter carries its own unique atmosphere and expression, yet all are united by the same purpose—a compassionate place for healing, faith, restoration, and authentic community.

Whether you connect with us in Orlando, Jacksonville, or through our Spanish-speaking chapter, you’ll encounter the same monthly theme thoughtfully explored within each community’s unique setting and rhythm.

Each chapter also shares its own flyer with clear details to help you easily find the gathering that fits you best.

Different places. Different expressions. One shared journey toward healing, restoration, and hope.

We would love for you to join us.

This Month’s Topic: Breaking Agreements with Darkness

Sometimes the deepest bondage is not obvious.

It can quietly shape the way we think, react, relate, and even see ourselves—hiding beneath fear, emotional survival patterns, control, confusion, or invisible spiritual weight.

This month, we are opening an honest and hope-filled conversation about the hidden places that keep hearts spiritually entangled. Together, we’ll explore how false agreements, unhealthy attachments, and subtle lies can influence our identity and distance us from the freedom God desires for us.

But this is not a journey centered on fear—it is a journey toward clarity, discernment, healing, and spiritual freedom. As truth comes into the light, chains begin to loosen, peace begins to return, and hearts can finally breathe again.

¿Hablas español? | Speak Spanish?

Tema de este mes: Rompiendo acuerdos con la oscuridad

New Opportunities to Connect and Grow

Our Save the Date! page gathers everything happening within Mending The Scarred into one simple, easy-to-navigate space—helping you stay connected without feeling overwhelmed. From upcoming gatherings and weekly prayer calls to special events and the new seasonal theme we are stepping into, it offers a clear and peaceful glimpse of what’s ahead.

You’ll also find details about our WhatsApp groups, ongoing rhythms of community connection, and different ways to stay engaged—whether you are nearby or joining from a distance.

This space is created to help you remain rooted in connection in a way that feels intentional, steady, and supportive as we move through November together.

Together, We Can Break the Cycle of Trauma

At Mending The Scarred, we believe every woman deserves the chance to heal, rebuild, and thrive after trauma.

Many women survivors of domestic violence and other hardships face overwhelming challenges—homelessness, financial instability, and emotional wounds that feel impossible to heal alone. That's where we stepped in.

We provide real, life-changing support to women in need, offering counseling, job assistance, emergency aid, took, clothing, medical care, and access to education. But we don't stop there

—we're working toward a secure, transitional housing program in Central Florida, giving survivors a stable place to stay while they rebuild their lives.

This mission isn't just about meeting basic needs—it's about empowerment. We want women to move beyond survival, to become confident, self sufficient, and ready to build a bright future.

But we can'd do this alone. Your support—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word—can change lives. Together, we can provide a fresh start for women who need it most.

Will you join us?

Our Vision | Our Team | Volunteering/Partnertships

Exiting 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 is 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 MTS.

💥 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.

Your time, energy, and compassion can change lives. Take the first step today! Click the link below to explore volunteer opportunities and email us at info@mendingthescarred.org to get started.

Let's make an impact together!

Sponsor a Survivor

Imagine the profound impact you can have on a woman who has endured the unthinkable—abuse, trauma, and heartache.

Your sponsorship isn't just a donation—it's an investment in the restoration of a life. It's a chance to show who has suffered that she is seen, valued, and worthy of the care and healing she so desperately needs.

Every session provides a safe space for her to process her pain, rebuild her self-worth and reclaim the strength that trauma tried to take from her.

Spread the Healing: Invite Others to Join Our Journey

Every journey toward healing becomes more powerful when shared.

If our newsletter has inspired, uplifted, or encourage you, we invite you to share it with others who might benefit as well! Encourage your friends, family, or colleagues to subscribe. Together, we can extend the reach of hope, understanding, and connection to even more hearts.

Your willingness to share may become part of someone else’s healing journey.

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Mending The Scarred

info@mendingthescarred.org

407-484-4544