During the COVID-19 pandemic, Olga Chicaiza, an Ecuadorian mother and outdoor enthusiast, faced a season of personal upheaval as lockdowns, uncertainty, and daily stress placed increasing strain on her family life, ultimately leading to divorce
Chicaiza said the period exposed both her strength and her vulnerability.
“I was strong, but at the same time very weak,” she recalled. As loneliness and unanswered questions intensified, she said she struggled to find stability and a way forward.
As a result, Chicaiza began listening regularly to Radio Nuevo Tiempo, a Seventh-day Adventist radio ministry serving Spanish-speaking audiences in Central and South America. She said the broadcasts offered more than information—they provided comfort and practical guidance during a difficult season.
“I felt understood there, and they helped me understand things I couldn’t on my own,” she said.
Over time, listening became part of her routine and her spiritual life. Chicaiza began using those moments outdoors as opportunities for prayer. She said she not only spoke with God, but also expressed gratitude and prayed for the ministry that had accompanied her through the pandemic.
Today, Chicaiza says she feels more stable, with a faith that continues to grow and the certainty that she is not alone. She acknowledges that Radio Nuevo Tiempo was and continues to be a fundamental guide for staying strong, both for herself and for her children.
“If the radio hadn't been there, perhaps everything would have been much sadder,” she says. For Chicaiza, Nuevo Tiempo was a steady support and hope during a season of loss and rebuilding.
The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site.







