Bianca Peraza is a wife, a mother of two children, and a Venezuelan migrant. She arrived in Ecuador seeking to be closer to her husband’s family, but like many migrants, her arrival was marked by uncertainty, fear, and insecurity. Before getting to know Pan de Vida, Bianca was going through a deep internal struggle. She doubted herself and doubted God. In her own words, she constantly asked herself, “If I do things right, why don’t they turn out right?”
In the midst of that confusion, she found comfort and support at Pan de Vida. One of the greatest challenges she faced, and still faces, is continuing to move forward with her projects without giving up, even when fear tries to paralyze her.
When Bianca first arrived at the microbusiness training, she felt insecure. However, over time, that feeling began to change. Every doubt she had was addressed and every question was heard. Little by little, she began to feel safe, confident, and supported. She describes that space as a place where people “make you feel at home, where you feel close to God, and where you can trust.”
Bianca initially participated in one of the first Shark Tank competitions within the program, but she decided to withdraw. She felt she wanted to give more but believed it was not enough. She doubted herself. However, when she shared her fears with the team and other participants, she received words of encouragement that marked her journey. They believed in her when she could not believe in herself. Bianca recognizes that, in many moments, the people at Pan de Vida believed in her more than she believed in herself, and that gave her the strength to continue.
Throughout this process, spiritual support was key. The prayers, constant encouragement, and close accompaniment deeply strengthened her faith. Bianca shares that her relationship with God was transformed. “There was no more fear or doubt. I felt that through Pan de Vida, God was telling me, ‘Keep going, keep going, you are doing well.’” Along the way, she learned to recognize God working in her life in clear and tangible ways.
When she finally presented her project at the Shark Tank competition, Bianca felt confident and at peace. Beyond the result, it was an experience that confirmed her personal and spiritual growth. Winning third place, and receiving the prize, a mixer and an oven, represented much more than tools. It represented the opportunity to move forward. Before, she knew she could do more but was limited by the lack of resources. Today, thanks to that support, she can improve her production and contribute more meaningfully to her household. For Bianca, this achievement is not hers alone. Behind her are her children, her family, and in the future they dream of building together. “We are a team,” she says.
The impact of Pan de Vida went beyond Bianca’s life and reached her family in a deeply moving way. Her oldest son, Bryan (12 years old), received a children’s Bible through the ministry and, from that moment on, began taking it to school every day and reading it during recess.
It was during one of those everyday conversations when Bryan told his mother, “Mom, my friend Carlos and I are reading the Bible.” Over time, other children began approaching them with curiosity and asking what they were doing. Bryan and Carlos invited them to join. What began between two friends became a small group of five children who, by their own choice, shared the Word of God together during recess at school.
As a migrant, Bianca highlights that organizations like Pan de Vida become family. Being far from one’s country of origin and loved ones is difficult, but finding a place where God’s love is lived out, where people treat you with respect, closeness, and truth, fills the heart with hope. Through the program, she has learned not only practical skills, but also how to walk more closely with God.
One teaching marked her life in a special way. One day, a teacher from the Shark Tank program advised her to set aside time every day, even just five minutes, to be with God in prayer. Bianca adopted this habit, and today she affirms that this time brings her peace, strengthens her, and helps her carry the daily burdens of motherhood and life with greater calm.
When asked to summarize her experience at Pan de Vida in one word, Bianca does not hesitate. Gratitude. Gratitude for the support, for the growth, for her strengthened faith, and for the visible impact on her family. For her, Pan de Vida has been a holistic blessing that has transformed her life and the lives of those she loves.