A Child’s Hard Life and Her Life-Changing Christmas
Veronica Miranda is a joyful young woman who is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with people in her community. But her early life was very different. It was marked by her parents’ incarceration, frequent moves, and deaths in her family. She became bitter after she and her siblings were sent to a Christian orphanage. In this Christmas episode of GPS: God. People. Stories., Veronica shares how God used a Christmas card message at the orphanage to lead her out of darkness. Connect with us through email at [email protected] or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio. If you’d like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net. If you’d like to pray with someone, call our 24-hour prayer line at 855-255-7729.
I was the oldest of four kids but when I
was about 8 years old my parents were
taken to prison because of their
involvement and illegal activities and I
didn’t know if we were ever going to see
my parents again when Veronica Miranda
was young life was hard and as a result
so was her heart until one Christmas
when she received a gift that began to
soften her hardened heart look at
everything I’ve gone through like I hate
God and God hates me
so why would I receive something like
this and why would someone say they love
me if they don’t even know me Veronica
Miranda discovered that the answer to
all her questions was found in the
Christ of Christmas welcome to the
Christmas episode of GPS God people
stories it’s an Outreach Of The Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association I’m Jim
Kirkland from the moment he was born in
a Bethlehem manger 2,000 years ago Jesus
Christ was destined to die on a cross
but as you’ll hear Billy Graham
explained later in this episode he was
also destined to be resurrected 3 days
later and to be the answer to all our
problems and Jesus Christ is more alive
than ever before he is alive to conquer
despair to impart hope to forgive sins
and to take away our loneliness and
reconcile us to God accept Jesus Christ
This Christmas give him the gift he most
wants your heart if you’d like to know
more about giving your heart to Jesus
Christ and letting him give you joy and
peace in return visit our website find
peacewithgod.net
that’s find peacewithgod.net now if
you’d rather speak with someone call the
24-hour Billy Graham prayer line at
855255
7729 that’s
855255 pray
GPS God people
stories While Veronica Miranda is
preparing for Christmas she’s also busy
showing others the hope of Jesus Christ
in her own community of Fort Lauderdale
Florida for one example she’s been
packing Operation Christmas Child shoe
boxes those are boxes filled with gifts
to go to children in need around the
world she’s also been serving on her
Church’s Outreach team which helps a
small school of about 30 students a lot
of people people like this micro school
that I go in I don’t go in and saying
you know here’s all my Bible verses and
I’m a Christian and I go to this church
like no I just come in and I love on
them and then they begin to ask
questions like well why are you so nice
why do you always smile why do you care
about us and then that’s the opportunity
where you say well because someone cared
about me and his name was Jesus so I
think the holidays is just an amazing
time for us to truly live out like Jesus
did this time of giving and celebration
is what Christmas is all about for
Veronica today but it wasn’t always this
way this is how her story began so I was
born in San Antonio Texas to an American
father and a Mexican mother I was the
oldest of four kids but when I was about
eight years old my parents were taken to
prison because of their involvement in
illegal activities I didn’t know if we
were ever going to see my parents again
she would see her mom again but it
wouldn’t be for a few months during that
time Veronica her sister and two
brothers were placed in a large foster
home that had lots of other kids when
her mom was released from prison she
decided to make a big change for the
family we moved to the northern part of
Mexico where she was born and raised and
we’re getting adjusted to this new
country this new place new everything
while they were in tragedy struck the
uncle they were living with was killed
possibly because of drug cartel
involvement says Veronica the family was
once again in crisis and once again they
had to move from that moment on we
didn’t really have a stable place that I
could call home you know we were going
from one house to another from place to
place from City to City just my mom my
siblings and I the family of five was
about to suffer yet another tragedy
Veronica was 11 when it happened I
remember that day him my cousin and my
little sister they were jumping on some
bunk beds and my little cousin
accidentally pushed my brother off one
of the beds and he fell and hit his head
so we brushed him to an’s hospital we
were outside of ma a major city so they
didn’t have the necessary equipment to
perform the surgery that he needed
5-year-old Alex was rushed by ambulance
to the nearest children’s hospital which
was 6 hours away Veronica’s mother
stayed without Al in the ambulance
Veronica and her siblings followed in
another vehicle after they arrived at
the hospital the kids saw their mom
sobbing they had never seen her cry
before and we came up to her and she
said that Alex was now with God we were
all just shocked and I was there with my
siblings you know I’m the oldest and
they kind of don’t understand just about
15 minutes after learning that Alex had
died another shock came for Veronica my
mom she comes up to us and she says that
you know we’re in a children’s hospital
there’s children with lots of needs and
my brother had um he was pronounced
brain dead but the rest of his organs
were perfect so she decided to donate
his organs now again I’m in shock don’t
really understand a lot of the science
you know I’m like 11 and she says that
there was a child who needed a heart and
she donated my brother’s heart and man
in that moment I just remember feeling
so angry that anger was directed toward
God I didn’t grow up like going to
church knowing about God just you know
what you see on TV and what you hear
about but in that moment I was just so
angry at God I I was just tired of
everything that we have already gone
through and then on top of this he just
took my brother’s perfectly good heart
and just gave it to another kid I was
just so heartbroken and angry like I I
just didn’t I couldn’t comprehend why
it’s such a
supposedly loving God would do something
like that Veronica had been the one who
heard the crash of her little brother’s
body falling from the bed she had run
into the room and then rushed to get her
mom then just like that a few hours
later Alex was gone and part of her mom
left with him she went in this huge
depression she didn’t want to see us she
didn’t want to talk to us it just felt
like maybe to her it felt like she had
lost all her kids you know she didn’t
want anything and and I remember that
was very hurtful because then now my
siblings would look up to me and be like
well she’s not available so you’re the
next one Veronica had to grow up fast
and not just because of her mom’s
depression two months after Alex’s death
Veronica’s mom was arrested again this
time though she wouldn’t be out anytime
soon she was sentenced to 40 years in a
Mexican prison I that point you know it
was tough not only losing my dad my
uncle my little brother but now my mom
and I did feel just this huge
responsibility on me I I I mean I
remember that day very clearly when they
came and they took her they were like it
was apparently something with the car
they just need to check like a
registration like it seemed very
harmless and they took her to the police
station or something like that but then
she never came back from that when
Veronica’s mother called her she didn’t
have much of an explanation she just
said you know Mommy did some things and
she needs to go away for a while we
actually stayed with this lady that she
used to work for my mom and she was
taking care of us and at the beginning
she was very nice and great but it just
got really bad she would hit us like she
would abuse us physically and she would
take us in and out of school
she stole a lot because Veronica’s
mother was in a prison about 10 hours
away she had no clue her children were
being mistreated and then one day she
wasn’t there when my mom called on the
phone and we told her everything and
that’s when she had told us that she was
already feeling something in her heart
that something wasn’t settling
Veronica’s mother had an idea she had
met a pastor who ministered to inmates
of the prison and who also helped with a
private Christian orphanage Veronica’s
mom arranged for her children to go
there we got to the orphanage I mean
this new place and I had never been with
that many children I honestly it this is
very silly but when my mom was kind of
explaining what an orphanage was to us I
we grew we were very innocent we didn’t
know about a lot of these things and I
asked my mom was like is it like the Zoe
101 show like what is this like I’m so
confused so I had nothing to reference
it so we got to the orphanage and
everyone was very nice in spite of how
nice the people in the environment were
Veronica was still intimidated she and
her brother and sister were joining
dozens of other children her brother
would be in one home and she and her
sister and another Veronica was about 13
at the time and she began to realize
that she had changed that her Outlook
and her attitude were different than
they had been not all that long ago I
was just very angry at God very angry at
people I didn’t smile I could care less
about
anything and going into the holiday
season is when I was even more sad
because that was going to be the first
holiday without my family or at least
without my mom Christmas for Veronica’s
family had always been a very festive
time holidays were huge for us
especially for the Latin culture we love
to have a party so that was a very fun
time in our family where a lot of our
family would gather where we would cook
where you would see all your cousins all
these great things and that was the
first year I wasn’t going to have that
and even though there was lots of kids
lots of people there I just felt so
alone like no one saw me no one cared
about me no one loved me but God saw
Veronica he cared about her and loved
her and she began to discover that on
Christmas Day the director of The
Orphanage called all the kids to come
downstairs he wanted to share with them
the true meaning of Christmas he told
the story of Jesus in a way that
Veronica had never heard before I
thought Christmas was about celebration
and the gifts and Buddy the elf and the
cookies and you know all those kind of
things not about like Jesus so then he
was like okay we have some gifts for
y’all and and they start handing out the
shoe boxes but these weren’t regular
boxes of shoes
they were Operation Christmas Child shoe
boxes Operation Christmas Child is an
Outreach of our sister Ministry
Samaritan’s Purse people pack these
boxes with gifts to share the love of
Jesus with kids around the world who are
in need kids like Veronica when she was
in that orphanage in Mexico when I
opened my Sho box I mean there’s lots of
great things in there in my box there
was some school supplies there was a
calculator like one of those you know
fancier ones there was a 12 pack of
these super glittery pencils lots of
great things in there but when I I grabb
my box and I’m taking everything out and
I got to the very bottom of my shoe box
and I read out a Christmas card and it
said merry Christmas you have a family
that loves you and is praying for you
and when I read those words I just
started like
crying the words that family wrote were
the words that Veronica needed to read
and the director of The Orphanage he
came up to me and he hugged me and said
look around look at all these kids we’re
your family too and we love you and I
just knew in my heart in that moment
that that gift was sent specifically for
me but Veronica didn’t know much more
than that she still had a lot of
questions and doubts look at everything
I’ve gone through like I hate God and
God hates me so why would I receive
something like this and why would
someone say they love me if they don’t
even know me Veronica started asking
more questions about God and started
paying more attention during devotions
at the orphanage she had questions like
how do you even read the Bible is there
specific order what would it look like
if I were to I guess join in on this
ride with Jesus I really was just so
clueless not for long though the spring
after that Christmas God used another
girl at the the orphanage to minister to
Veronica a girl who had been through
some terrible situations
herself this girl read to Veronica
Isaiah
41: 9 and 10 this is what that passage
says I took you from the ends of the
Earth from its farthest Corners I called
you you are my servant I have chosen you
and I have not rejected you do not be
dismayed for I am your God I will Str
you and help you I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand and when I heard
those words I just felt so loved and so
seen in that moment just kind of like
when I read those words also on that
Christmas card on that was in my shoe
box on Christmas day but also this verse
it just felt so specific to me it felt
very like God he’s he literally the way
I interpreted in that moment was like
okay I took you out of all the
situation everything that you’ve gone
through I’ve brought you here so that
you can know about me but also I’ve
chosen you and I will give you the
strength and I will give you the power
and give you like what you need so that
you can live out my Ministry I really
did feel like okay God wants me to do
greater and bigger things but I don’t
know what that is Veronica asked the
girl to pray for her she was done having
anger and hatred fill her heart it was
emotionally and physically
exhausting Veronica wanted to invite
Jesus into her life then we prayed and I
just felt like after that I had this Joy
I loved I was just happy and I felt like
I was able to breathe again more than
anything was I wanted other kids to know
that someone out there loves them and
that they don’t have to be angry and
that they don’t have to be mad at
themselves at situations
at God Veronica’s own situation was
about to take a turn for the worse she
wasn’t able to enroll in school because
the orphanage had misplaced her birth
certificate the law required that a
student had to have a birth
certificate and that was really hard for
me because I loved school I loved
studying I loved learning new things and
I really just thought that my education
was that one thing that I had control
over but Veronica didn’t waste this
unwanted season she noticed the children
in the community around her were hungry
hungry both spiritually and physically
so I started a community soup kitchen I
learned how to cook and I cooked meals
for
27 kids so these children would come in
every day to eat the meal I would cook
Veronica was just 13 years old at the
time starting and running a soup kitchen
so what kinds of meals does a third
1-year-old running a soup kitchen
prepare we asked her we did a lot of
rice we did a lot of what we Calla poo
which is shredded chicken in like the
sauce and then you would serve it on top
of a toada so like a fried corn tortilla
we would do tacos we would do lots of
just like Mexican meals we cook Mexican
food we got rice beans now Veronica had
started the soup kitchen simply is
something to do since she wasn’t able to
be in school but the problem with her
birth certificate was resolved and she
was able to return to school within a
year before that though she also helped
distribute Operation Christmas Child
shoe boxes to other churches and
organizations in the area and she led a
weekly discipleship program from
Samaritan’s Purse called the greatest
Journey the greatest journey is a 12
Lesson discipleship program for children
that once they receive their shoe boxes
they’re inv Ed back into that same place
to hear about the word of God I had the
opportunity to teach this to the 270
kids of our community but also the 50
kids of the orphanage and it was just a
huge blessing it really just
strengthened my walk with Jesus and it
reinforced my calling and what the Lord
had called me out to do that year
Veronica started to thrive she built a
new kind of family with those around her
and she had a whole new understanding of
Jesus by the time her second Christmas
at the orphanage came around I didn’t
feel so alone that Christmas I wasn’t in
such a dark place either throughout that
year I was able to heal a little bit
more and also just came in with more
gratitude Veronica had the joy of the
Lord in her heart that Christmas she was
celebrating in a very different way
within 3 years Veronica and her siblings
would no longer be living in the
orphanage an American couple who had
gone on a mission trip to Mexico had
worked to win legal guardianship of the
kids first they came down to the
orphanage did Ministry and they left but
then they came back the following year
and said that the Lord had put in their
heart to start a process to bring us
back to the US so it took about three
years and it was it was not the easiest
process but the Lord made a way and it
was a huge blessing in 2014 when
Veronica was 17 she and her siblings
moved with that family all the way to
Washington State they stayed with them
about 2 years before being welcomed into
another family the
barnetts they are amazing they live also
in the Seattle area up in Washington
state so when I say I’m going home for
the holidays that’s where I mean when I
go up there and spend some time and even
Christmases with them has been a fun New
different type of
experience the Barnet are not Hispanic
so the fun new different way of
celebrating Christmas was really a
culture shock for Veronica and her
siblings let me tell you Hispanic
culture we celebrate on the 24th we have
a dinner and we love to have music we
have dancing we have spending time with
family you’re talking with cousins aunts
everyone until like midnight and then by
midnight that’s when you know most of
the time you can open gifts and
celebrate with your family you see all
the little kids playing around enjoying
C Santa I guess in Latin America comes
around midnight but during Christmas Eve
in the United States with the barnetts
Veronica and her siblings had a quiet
dinner of turkey and ham I think that
was the first time I probably ever had
ham and then it was like 8 o’clock they
have this beautiful tradition the
barettes where with their kids every
year we get to open a gift which is
pajamas and a board game I I had NE I
don’t think i’ had ever owned officially
a pair of pajamas like you know a pajama
set so we did pajamas this 24th and we
all did a board game and played together
like a family and then everyone went to
bed at like 10 o’clock so my sister and
I were like what’s happening on
Christmas morning Veronica and her
sister and brother open presents with
the barnetts who had two children about
their same ages we got to share like
just that moment of joy joy and
happiness all together smaller
environment you know I didn’t have 50
kids it was just us there and it it was
just so beautiful and they’re just such
a loving family the barnetts asked
Veronica and her siblings how they were
used to celebrating Christmas they told
them and the next year the Barnett said
we’re going to do a Mexican Christmas
everybody made homemade tamales I was
teaching everyone how to make tamales we
made I think like 15 toal my sister made
some Salsas we made comade Tortillas
everything and it was just really fun
how they like just really wanted to
include us in you know kind of learning
about how we celebrate our Christmases
it’s always a joy to be around them we
always are cracking jokes just having a
good time and it’s just so nice and it’s
always a joyful time although Veronica
celebrates Christmas with her new family
the barnetts she’s still keeps in touch
with her mom who remains in prison in
Mexico her mom accepted the Lord while
attending a weekly Bible study and today
she leads a Bible study in prison and
it’s constantly encouraging and praying
for her adult children when my mom was
gone like when she was taken right to
prison that was like okay I really don’t
think I can handle more of this and now
looking back I’m just so thankful that
God God provided strength the fact that
he gave me that strength when I was 12
years old is just an amazing testimony
of his word and what like he really is
there with us at all times even when we
think we’re going to break so that just
like fills me like renews my faith every
[Music]
time Veronica Miranda first began to
understand God’s love for her when she
read the card that a family had tucked
inside an Operation Christmas Child shoe
box that led to her discovery of the joy
and peace that can only come from having
a personal relationship with Jesus the
Christ of
Christmas if you’d like to know more
about beginning a relationship with
Jesus or going further and deepening the
one you already have visit us at fine
peacewithgod.net
that’s find peacewithgod.net if you’d be
more comfortable speaking with someone
call the 24-hour prayer line there’s
someone waiting to speak with you now at
855255 pray that’s
855255
7729 both that phone number and the link
to our website are in the show notes
stay close Veronica has one more thought
about Christmas to share in just a
moment you’re listening to GPS God
people stories a podcast production of
the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association today our imaginations go
back 2,000 years to that first Christmas
when the world experienced three
phenomena Billy Graham first there was
the star there were many stars in the
sky but none like this this one shown
with the auror and Brilliance of another
world it was as though God had taken a
lamp from the ceiling of Heaven and hung
it in the dark sky on a troubled World
second there was a new song in the air a
world which had lost its song learned to
sing again with the coming of God In the
Flesh hope sprang in the heart of man
and led by Angelic beings the whole
world took up the refrain glory to God
in the highest and on Earth peace Good
Will toward men and thirdly there was
good news the good news that at last a
savior had come to save men from sin his
name shall be called Jesus and he shall
save his people from their sins he was
the central theme of that first
Christmas and Jesus Christ is more alive
than ever before he is alive to conquer
despair to impart hope to forgive sins
and to take away our loneliness and
reconcile us to God accept Jesus Christ
This Christmas give him the gift he most
wants your heart this is his birthday
let us give him a gift worthy of his
love
[Music]
we can tell you more about giving your
heart to Jesus visit us online or give
us a phone call for going online the
address is find peacewithgod.net
that’s find peacewithgod.net
and for the phone number that’s our
24-hour Billy Graham prayer line the
number is
855255 pray someone is there ready to
answer your questions and pray with you
so keep the number handy 855 5 255
7729 and again we have that number and
the link to the website ready for you in
the show Nots Our Guest on this episode
of GPS is Veronica Miranda her childhood
was marked by a series of traumatic
events all of which led to her becoming
bitter toward God that changed when she
received an Operation Christmas Child
shoe box now she sees Christmas as a
perfect time to tell others about Jesus
Christ and how much he loves them
Christmas is such an important time and
holiday I think that a lot of people’s
hearts during the holidays soften a
little bit and that gives us so much
opportunity to minister in love and like
showing like your community that you are
there that you do see them and that
they’re
loved Veronica Miranda’s story is a
picture of the Christmas story Jesus
Christ come coming into her broken heart
just as he came into a broken world to
bring New Hope and joy we’re grateful to
Veronica for sharing her story with us
and we are grateful to you for listening
to be sure you don’t miss any of our
stories that we’re bringing you
subscribe to GPS wherever you listen to
podcasts and if this GPS was a blessing
if you enjoyed hearing Veronica’s story
could we ask a favor of you give us a
quick rating or review on your podcast
app that really really helps more people
find out about this podcast I’m Jim
Kirkland and all of us here at GPS God
people stories wish you a very merry
Christmas this podcast is an Outreach Of
The Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association always good news
oh
[Music]