Hi Y’all,

This past year serving with Hard as Nails has been a miracle of healing in my life. I started out the year barely being able to run. My depression was at a low point and I did not have a purpose for my life. 

Going into this first year I deeply wanted to grow in humility. God is funny, during my second week of training I sprained my ankle which left me on crutches for six weeks. The one thing I struggle deeply with is asking for help. My team was incredibly supportive and really helped me get back on my feet. It taught me the beauty of serving and being served and I was deeply loved while I was recovering. By the time I finished with hard as nails I could run 10 sprints in a row and was back to my old fit self. Physically I was in the best shape I had been in years. 

Spiritually I received this incredible formation during training and after commissioning. We went to daily mass, prayed the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Angelus, Morning and Night prayer, and a holy hour in silence. I could only use my phone once a week during training and for 30 minutes everyday after commissioning. This time of silence gave me time to reflect on why I was in this ministry and consider what I would say at the retreats we led. I learned how to give talks at our retreats, and intentionally listen to those around me. 

We had a small women's team and since we all lived together we built this mature and supportive sisterhood.

What my team and I  received during formation gave us the experience and maturity needed to either help lead retreats at our Missionary Led Events or support Justin Fatica on Tour. I learned how to make phone calls and reach out to our donors and people who came to our retreats. 

At Hard as Nails there is a follow up program where if a student wants to stay in touch with two missionaries they can. It would be two missionaries of the same gender who would reach out to a student of the same gender. Before we reach out to the students we follow up with their parents to ask if it’s ok for us to stay in touch with them. One day I reached out to this beautiful mom. We started talking and she shared with me a lot of what her daughter was struggling with. She shared how it was affecting her as well. I had this opportunity to just listen and pray with her at the end of the conversation. We were both in tears at the end of the conversation. 

My time at Hard as Nails has helped me grow in a deeper sense of humility, trust, joy, and intentionality. I can speak in front of crowds now, love those around me more deeply, and take these skills to retreats and home. My purpose in life is now to console the hearts of Jesus and Mary by consoling the hearts of his children here on earth. I am doing a second year to deepen these skills, continue to heal, and to console the hearts of God’s children.

I want to invite you to join me in this great journey. Would you consider becoming my partner. My goal this year is to again raise $10,000 to support the cost of travel and food expenses. Last year I was supported by many incredibly generous people. I would like to thank each of you for your generosity and the new donors who join me on this journey. The souls I had the opportunity to help impact at our retreats I never would have helped if it wasn’t for those who donated to my page. I want You to Partner with me in this mission of making a world where nobody suffers alone. Any amount helps. Whether it's a dollar or fifty. This year, I gave $150 to my fund to kick start this year. I would be happy to make you a rosary key chain in thanksgiving for your donation. May God bless you and know that I am praying for you specifically this year during the rosaries we pray daily.

God Bless you!

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Pray for us

Sts. Kateri and Faustina, Pray for us.

Feel free to reach out to me at cathydiaz@hanm.org

"The Lord is my portion I tell myself therefore my hope is in him."

Lamentation 3:24