For a few seconds after my mother said she could not congratulate me for “defying God’s will,” no one moved.

donations. Pressure tactics. Unregistered counseling services. Women encouraged to cut off family members. Funds used for personal expenses. Pastor Abel denied everything, of course. Men like him always do. But donors started asking questions. Families started telling stories. My mother’s name was not printed, but people in Puebla knew enough to whisper.continue reading …