Mildre recounts how her brothers beat her until she lost consciousness, leaving her blind in one eye.
The episode 'El Dolor de los Hermanos' on Encuentro features an interview between host Pastor Heriberto Ayala and guest Mildre. Ayala introduces the theme of family violence, specifically sibling abuse, as a topic many prefer to silence. Mildre introduces herself as a Honduran from Tegucigalpa, now living in the US for over 20 years, married with four children. She begins her story by describing her family structure: four siblings from her parents, who separated when she was about five. Her mother emigrated to the United States to provide a better life, leaving the children with their father. Mildre recounts her father's struggle with alcoholism, exacerbated by the burden of single parenthood and rejection from relatives. She states she would have preferred poverty with her parents over their absence. The core of her testimony details severe physical abuse from her older brothers, including being beaten unconscious and sustaining an eye injury. She felt powerless and developed self-harm behaviors and suicidal thoughts. Mildre also reveals she experienced sexual abuse by a male cousin who lived with the family when she was around eight or nine years old; he would touch her and make her touch him, using threats to ensure her silence. The interview then shifts to her transformation. Mildre attributes her healing to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, which showed her God's love and made her a 'new creature.' She explains she learned to forgive her abusers and now prays for their salvation. She describes this encounter as happening after moving to the US, influenced by church invitations. When asked, Mildre notes attempts to discuss her past with her mother have been difficult, as her mother interprets it as reproach. In closing, Ayala asks for a message of hope. Mildre advises immigrant parents to maintain communication with their children to prevent similar suffering. The episode ends with contact information for the program.
