Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Garcia.
Eliza, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
For starters, I was born and raised in the great city of Houston, Texas. After High School my mind was flooded with all of the many things I was passionate about in hopes of making them into a career. Like any other recent graduate, I was thrilled to have finished high school but now, I was left with the question, “What exactly is it that I want to do in life?” As young people, we don’t truly realize how limitless our opportunities and dreams can and should be. So, that same fall I decided it wast best to enrolled in community college full-time while I figured out a declare major. Soon after, I became a nanny for a family friend within the church. What I did not know was that I was about to experience something no woman or man should ever have to experience. The following February, I was sexually abused over the course of five months by that same family friend. What most people do not know is that when someone experiences something this tragic it not only affects their body, but their spirit, soul, and body. At this point, I knew there was only one man that could heal my heart completely and make me feel whole again and that man was Jesus. This is when I truly began to live a devoted life for the Lord. Trust me when I say that only He can heal you and take you from a place of brokenness and shame to wholeness and fullness of joy.
Throughout those five months, I pushed everyone out of my life and tried to “hide” the best that I knew how. This is what shame does, it tells you to hide. If my story is anything like yours just know this one thing. Shame is not from God and you are shameless simply because of Christ in you the hope of glory. After many nights of broken tears and hiding, my breakthrough had finally come. Towards the end of that fifth month, some previous pastors of mine counseled me and my parents through this season. And I will forever be grateful for them. What I love about God is that he is a redeeming God. He is a God that heals and restores from the inside out. Till this day, I have the closest relationship I have ever had with my parents even before the abuse. My relationship with God is interwoven and now more than ever I am aware that God is waiting to use every part of my story for his glory, not ours. It’s more about him and less about us. In December of 2017, I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Christian Studies. Now, how exactly did I get to where I am today? I am standing where I am of course by the grace of God but with a God that has been by my side all along. He had never left my side, He was simply waiting patiently with me through it all.
Has it been a smooth road?
Oh, how I would love for my journey to have been described as a “smooth road” but no this was not the case. I believe that in each of our journeys, we all have had struggles, but very different struggles. A few struggles I had were creating spiritual disciplines and finding and cultivating healthy friendships who lived out the healthy values they believed in. To create spiritual disciplines is to create healthy habits that will in return create a stronger and healthier relationship between you and God. For example, setting your standards high in the movies you watch, the music you listen to, and the places you go. Also, I guess being a college student you really don’t have much spare time to simply do something you love, much less find the time to create friendships so it was very difficult. My advice to young women is to create those spiritual disciplines. Find a home church in whichever state or city you find yourself in and seek out those healthy friendships that challenge your relationship with God for the better. Don’t let your emotions and fears drive you into anxious thinking. The more you learn to surrender, the more peace you will have. Do not become discouraged in the quiet and slow seasons of life. Take advantage of that downtime and go for that jog, go to that free concert, grab a girlfriend and sip on that chai latte. But most importantly, don’t get impatient. Tell God all about your dreams and worries. Trust me and know that He hears every word and He most definitely does not forget them. Last but certainly not the least, “How gracefully and purposefully He brings everything together, The Master Storyteller, always intervening, always for the better.” – Grace Harper Nichols
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am currently in-between jobs but I work in Education as well as Physical Education K-12. I am most proud to be an Educator. Being an Educator is a privilege and an honor. As Americans, we say this often but do we truly take advantage of our opportunities here? Most of my friends know me for either the food I eat or a set split of cross-training workouts I am currently tackling. I absolutely love to share what I am eating with my friends on social media as well as what workouts/ exercises I am completing for the day. Healthy eating and physical fitness have always been something I am passionate about ever since high school when I first joined the track team. I believe that what sets me apart from others is exhibiting kindness and optimism. As a joke to most of my friends, I am known as “Mom” simply because I am kind and nurturing. I have found it simply a quality I can’t seem to part with. I enjoy helping others! Also, I am set apart from others through my strong sense of optimism. Over the years, I have become someone that speaks life to myself and to my peers. This world can seem dark and dreary, but if we all learned how to cultivate more optimism or how to speak life into people, I believe we would all be more attractive people. Nobody wants to befriend someone who is negative, it simply is not an attractive quality.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
To all the young women who are just starting your career, do everything with excellence. But remember you are not giving it you’re all in the workplace for a single person, thing or title. Do everything unto the Lord, and for His glory. Yes, we all have managers and policies within the workplace to follow but what I am getting at here is to take all of your physical and mental efforts and aim them to please Him and honor Him. Even if you cannot stand to look at your supervisor or abide by him/her just remember at the end of the day what you do is with Him in mind. When you can grab onto this concept, your time and your energy will serve a higher purpose and you will find yourself less overwhelmed and less anxious. Do not despise your small beginnings. We all have to start somewhere and even if it is not your dream job, that’s okay. Why? Because we all have so much to learn and character to form. Stay open-minded to where God would have you go and don’t set your heart on any one door. This is not talked about nearly as enough but ladies, please, be smart with your income. Whether little or much, it all needs to be stewarded well. If you have no idea how to do that or where to start, that’s okay. We live in a world full of many, many resources. Go to Barnes and Noble’s and find books on the topic of financial peace. Dave Ramsey has an amazing podcast with so much wisdom we all could use from budgeting all the way to investing in a Roth IRA. Be smart, don’t be impulsive.
Contact Info:
- Email: elizavictoria77@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizavictoria_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007801861224
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