Mending The Scarred

Newsletter | July 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.

Carmen Alonso, Founder and Executive Director

Declared Free, Still Learning to Live Free

History reminds us that freedom is rarely a one-time event. It may be declared in a moment, but it is defended over time.

The same is true in our spiritual lives.

When we give our lives to Christ, freedom is declared over us. Sin no longer defines us. Shame no longer owns us. We are made new. Yet many believers discover something unexpected: the battle doesn’t end at salvation—it comes into sharper focus in the mind.

Scripture teaches that our inner thought life shapes who we become (Proverbs 23:7).

Our mind is like a land or a field where thoughts are planted and cultivated. Over time, those thoughts form beliefs, and beliefs shape how we experience life—peace or anxiety, wholeness or fragmentation, joy or heaviness.

Just as people throughout history have fought to be free from external oppression, believers often find themselves fighting a quieter battle within. Many are spiritually free, yet mentally living under old systems—fear, shame, performance, or narratives formed long before Christ entered the story. Freedom has been declared, but the land of the mind still needs tending.

This is why Scripture calls us to renew our minds and to take every thought captive. After salvation, our minds become contested ground—not because freedom is lost, but because it matters.

The good news is that we are not left to fight alone. God has given us means of grace to sustain and protect the freedom He has secured:

• His Word, which anchors us in truth when feelings and circumstances try to take over

• The Holy Spirit, living within us, guiding us into truth, healing, and discernment

• Prayer and meditation, daily practices that realign our hearts and reclaim inner ground

• Life in community, where we walk alongside other believers, strengthen one another, and are reminded of truth when our own vision grows weary

Freedom—whether in history or in the heart—is not passive. It is something we live into, protect, and practice daily.

May this month be an invitation to reflect on the freedom Christ has already secured—and to intentionally walk in it, from the inside out, day by day.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1)

S.H.A.P.E.

Each year, our S.H.A.P.E. class invites participants into a 14-week journey of discovery—one meaningful hour at a time, one chapter per meeting.

While the class is offered via Zoom—making it possible for women to join from many miles away—our closing graduation brings together those who are able to gather in person.

The photos you see here were taken during last year’s graduation and celebrate the completion of that journey—honoring both the teachers who faithfully walked alongside the group and the women who were present to receive their certificates. Not everyone who completed the class is pictured, but each woman who journeyed with us is equally part of this story and this community.

It’s a journey designed not to rush answers, but to slow down long enough to recognize how God uniquely formed each person.

As we explore Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences, participants begin to see familiar pieces of their lives come together with new clarity and purpose.

Talents once overlooked are named. Gifts shaped through lived experience are honored. Strengths that may have been buried beneath survival or self-doubt are gently brought back into the light.

Over time, insight grows—practical, personal, and deeply affirming.

As we look ahead to offering the S.H.A.P.E. class again this August, we share these moments as an encouragement.

This journey is for anyone longing to better understand how they are made and how their story, gifts, and passions can be lived out with intention—no matter where they are joining from.

These images mark more than the end of a class—they capture a moment of recognition and celebration within a growing family, as women step forward with a clearer understanding of who they are and how they are called to live and serve.

A Brief Summer Pause 🌿

Honoring Rest, Renewal, and the Work That Continues Ahead

During the month of July, Mending The Scarred will be taking a short pause as many of our volunteers step away for rest, travel, and time with family.

As a result, our programs and communications will be temporarily unavailable throughout the month. This pause allows our team to be refreshed and renewed so we can continue serving with care and excellence.

We’ll be back in August, ready to resume our regular activities and walk alongside survivors as usual.

Thank you for your understanding, your continued prayers, and your unwavering support.

We look forward to reconnecting soon.

Healing Together: Strength That Grows in Community

One Calendar, Many Ways to Connect

There is a unique strength found when we gather—sharing a meal, listening to one another’s stories, and simply being present together. These in-person moments create safe, meaningful spaces where women can learn, be supported, and build genuine connections that often extend far beyond the meeting itself.

Alongside these gatherings, our weekly online prayer group offers a gentle and welcoming rhythm of connection. From the comfort of home, women come together to grow in faith, encourage one another, and remain rooted in community—no matter the season of life they’re in.

From monthly group meetings and recurring events to weekly prayer calls, inspiring themes, active WhatsApp groups, and special gatherings, there are many ways to stay connected.

You can explore our gatherings and ongoing programs on our website, but more than anything, we hope you know this: you are part of a community that walks together, listens with care, and believes deeply in the steady work of healing.

Here, no one walks the journey alone.

S.H.A.P.E.

We’re already looking ahead with anticipation to our next S.H.A.P.E. class!

Beginning in August, this 14-week guided journey meets once a week via Zoom for an enriching one-hour session.

It’s a meaningful investment—one that allows space for reflection, encouragement, and discovering how God has uniquely crafted you for His purposes.

Start making room on your calendar for August. We’ll be sharing the exact date and time as the month approaches, and we’d be honored to walk this journey 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 step in.

We provide real, life-changing support to women in need, offering counseling, job assistance, emergency aid, food, 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’t 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?

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 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.

Sponsor a Survivor

As we reflect on the battles fought to secure freedom for a nation, we’re reminded that some wars are not waged on fields or marked by dates in history.

They are fought in silence—in hearts and minds shaped by abuse, trauma, and loss.

Survivors of violence fight a different kind of war.

One for safety. For dignity. For the right to live unafraid. Their journey toward healing requires courage, perseverance, and support—no less than any struggle for independence.

Your sponsorship is not merely a donation; it is an act of standing in the gap. It declares that this woman does not have to fight alone. Each counseling session becomes ground for restoration—a place where pain is named, strength is rebuilt, and hope begins to rise again.

When you sponsor a survivor, you help her reclaim what trauma tried to steal: her voice, her worth, and her freedom.

This July, as we honor the cost of freedom, you can help make healing and restoration possible—one brave life at a time.

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 encouraged 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.

Let’s grow this community of healing—one invitation at a time.

Moments of Healing, Shared with Care

Ever wonder what healing looks like when it’s lived out in real time—around tables, in circles of prayer, during quiet moments of reflection, and moments of joy?

Our Gallery offers a thoughtful glimpse into those spaces. From events and group meetings to retreats and gatherings, these photos reflect the heart of our community and the meaningful work unfolding within it.

Every image shared has been used with care and permission. All individuals pictured are either survivors who are no longer in danger or volunteers who support the mission. We are intentional about protecting privacy and safety, and any image that could place someone at risk is removed before publication.

We invite you to visit the Gallery and scroll down to explore photos organized by year—each one capturing connection, growth, and the steady work of healing done together.

Visit the Gallery and see how community, care, and hope come to life.

Got Questions?

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Mending The Scarred

info@mendingthescarred.org

407-484-4544