The Voice for the Speechless

Purpose: Something we all strive to find in life…

After months of not writing, I had the blessing of crossing paths with Gladys Domingo on Instagram. This was not just by coincidence, but I also feel privileged to have spoken to her about her life. She is a nurse, a mother and a wife, but also so much more.

For many people life is about eating, sleeping, working and relaxing. We work all our adult lives so that we can have a decent pension for the dreaded day of retirement and old age. We might dream of having a loving family, a nice house, a few furry pets and a life of luxury, but for Gladys these are not her life’s dreams and aspirations.

Working as a nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic in Dubai, she has realised just how fragile life can be. Just as babies are born each day, so there are people dying each day. She described her working conditions as a ‘zombie apocalypse’. They were working in a warehouse that had been turned into a Covid-19 hospital. The PPE that they wore made them look like astronauts on a strange different planet. People were already scared of becoming sick, and the nurses with their space suits did not help provide a place where people could feel safe.

There are so many beautiful things that I can write about Gladys, but what stands out for me about her is that she wants to make the most of her life and make it as meaningful as possible; she wants to make a difference in the hearts and lives of those who are vulnerable and have no voice.

For the time before Covid made its way in our world history, Gladys was doing missionary work in a part of Africa. There she came in close contact with people most of us want to avoid. She spoke to drug addicts, prisoners and children in an orphanage. Sadly, she also encountered families who are still affected by the traditions of FGM. Her time working with these people was sadly cut short when Covid-19 stopped international travel.

Gladys’ dream for when her own beautiful children are older is to be able to travel to places where women are still being oppressed and don’t have a voice. Living in the UK we complain about tax, politics and the price of fuel, but for some woman and children free speech is still unheard of. Someone needs to step up and hear the silent screams of these people – thankfully she is one of these amazing souls who hears these cries for help. When I asked her what makes her so brave, she replied, “If I am going to die, I will die. I have hope in heaven and in God; He has a plan for my life.” Gladys has found her faith in God in 2017 when a lovely person reached out to her and encouraged her to come to church. She had searched for a higher faith in so many places, and finally found that when people read the Bible, they are changed for the better. Her faith in God is full of thankfulness and purpose.

Her beautiful legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of the many people whom she helped in their time of distress.

As people, we are stronger together. Let’s help each other, become the strength and voice for those in need. It is nearly the new year when we will be reflecting on our new year’s resolutions. My hope is that by sharing Gladys’ story, we will all be challenged to think more deeply about our purpose and to search until we have found it. Please read more about beautiful Gladys Domingo on her Instagram page and follow her channel. @Bhudhang https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMQeEtL-YIy8RWwLHvdvdw For more information and advice about FGM: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/national-fgm-support-clinics/