Can you imagine moving to the United States from Brazil as a widow with a 3 year old baby and not speaking a word of English? Well that's how our story with my guest Rachel Bruno, mother of two boys, begins.
Rachel's father was a prominent doctor and pastor in Brazil. Unfortunately, Rachel's dad passed away when she was only 9 months old. After a few short years, Theresa, Rachel's mother, finds herself moving to the US on behalf of a sponsorship from a Christian church mainly because of her diseased husband's reputation.
The two women relied heavily on the church community for support, including everything from meals, clothing, babysitting, etc.
While mom was trying to continue her education and hold down three jobs, Rachel often was being cared for by neighbors and fellow church members. However, Rachel had a tough time growing up in a community that had held her father at such high esteem. She felt that they only loved her/Rachel, because she was her father's daughter. Rachel rebelled against the church quite a bit because she didn't really know where she fit in.
As Rachel says, "my mother was the queen of tough love," so when Rachel was rebellious, her mom held stead fast and tried to be patient.
In time, Rachel came to understand the true meaning of faith and found it extremely useful in time of crisis. Her mother was her rock and during this horrific experience, she never once saw her faith falter.
As you listen to this unimaginable story, one that no family should ever experience, you'll hear Rachel say over and over again how faith and hope were an integral part of how she and her family endured this experience.
Rachel has become an Advocate/Ambassador for families victimized by Family Court.
Rachel has a bachelor's degree in communication and an MBA from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. Rachel's book "Fractured Hope: A Mother's Fight For Justice," will be released in 2022.
https://rachelbruno.com/
https://twitter.com/rachelbruno