Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Pagan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story is one of overcoming adversity, and loss but also resilience, faith, and perseverance!
Born in Puerto Rico, and raised in NYC from the age of 5, I have experienced many obstacles, which shaped me into the passionate woman, mother, and professional I am today!
My Florida and small business journey actually began during my one-month stay in Puerto Rico, May 2021, due to a fall my father unexpectedly experienced. Months prior to my father’s accident, my parents who lived in Puerto Rico, and I, collectively decided to move to Florida in a year, that was our plan. Shortly after, without any turnaround expectations, I began to apply for hospital management positions which is my professional background. To my surprise, God’s plans were already in place for my family and I.
Upon arriving in Puerto Rico, my father went into a coma from the fall. On that exact day, I received a call from a Florida hospital Director to set up an interview. Even though I was emotionally depleted and physically exhausted, my spirit led the way and I moved forward with the interview.
A week later, sadly enough my father passed away from brain hemorrhaging due to the fall. An hour after my dad’s passing, I yet again received a call from the same Florida Director extending a meeting with the Providers I now have the honor of working with. Again, my spirit led the way, and agreed to meet.
The day prior to my dad’s funeral service, I virtually met with the three amazing Providers. 10 minutes after the call, I received the job offer and without hesitation, I accepted! I didn’t know how I would move to Florida, the arrangements, where I would live, had no clue the journey I had agreed to, however, I wholeheartedly knew I had to trust that it was where I needed to be.
After remaining in Puerto Rico for a month, I went back to NYC, this time with my elderly and disabled mother who my father took care of until he passed. I had 2 weeks to pack and move to Florida. I left my mother with my brother for a few weeks and my 20-year-old daughter who had never been apart from me in NYC while I settled and found a place to live. It was emotionally difficult but I kept trusting…
I was blessed enough to have stayed with friends who opened their home to me for 17 days while I found a place of my own. The funny part was, they literally had moved to Florida a week before I did. We mutually were able to be there for each other in different ways and that was a blessing!
The journey and process were far from easy, it was terrifying, many doubtful moments, no car, and financially overwhelming. Through the storm, I learned to trust in God. He placed so many wonderful people along the way who lent a hand in various forms, angels in disguise!
While in New York City, I was a freelance makeup artist as a side hustle, I love my artistry and I know I’m great at it, but I also knew there was something else I was equally passionate about my entire life, and that is my culture, my traditions, and certainly our food!
As a child, food was a huge and important aspect in my household. I remember my father who had a sweet tooth, how he loved limbers and Puerto Rican desserts, and how my mom would spend all day in the kitchen preparing food from scratch. I recall the smells, the taste, and how it made me feel! I now know how my mom felt from the great satisfaction of watching others enjoy my cooking, it fills me with so much pride!
I’ve been a go-getter, and hard worker my whole life, and knew I had to be creative this time around. I needed to use my skills in order to provide for my family and now my mother. That’s when the knock-in my heart occurred, that awakening and “aha moment” took place, it was like I heard my father’s voice loud and clear say, ” MAKE LIMBERS AND DESSERTS!” I remember waking up in the middle of the night and rushing to grab my notebook. I started to write all my ideas as if they began flowing through me. Fearlessly and doubtlessly, I decided to share my passion, my love of Puerto Rican, our limbers (Puerto Rican Ice cream), desserts, and traditional dishes with the world! Together with my daughter, we’re now the proud owners of Boriken Limbers, LLC.
As a small business owner, my goal is to provide the authentic taste of our culture, the passion, and love we put into every dish while spreading a testimony of strength, resilience, family, friendship, faith, and most importantly, the love of Christ! We have countless ideas and initiatives we will be implementing and sharing through our business.
This new journey is dedicated to my beloved father who was respected and loved by many, he impacted the lives of everyone he came across by spreading the love of Christ. Daddy, your spirit will live on for generations! We love you!
I look forward to sharing my desserts, food, and kindness with each of you!
Thank you
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Certainly, it’s been a journey filled of doubt, loss, fear, hurt, and tears, but also perseverance, lessons, growth, opportunities, awakenings, trust, love, hope, and faith!
I had no car for 10 months, I had to rely on Uber and co-workers. It was financially depleting. Now we finally have a car and started our business. My clientele is slowly but surely growing. I will be partnering with a local restaurant to sell my Limbers, and look forward to eventually opening my own location. No limits!!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I absolutely love my team and the mission behind the organization, “Extending the healing ministry of Christ!”
I am most proud of openly practicing my faith while leading a team and servicing our patients through kindness, love, and compassion. It fills me with purpose and accomplishment!
What separates me from other leaders at work is my ability to connect with others. The essence that God individually placed within me to actively listen, empathize, and genuinely care for others. This world lacks sincerity and kindness.
As a small business owner for Boriken Limbers, LLC, I am able to share my passion for my Puerto Rican heritage and culture through my desserts and food. It keeps me connected to my roots and ancestors.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is integrity, my purpose to spread love, and my faith in God! I’ve experienced challenging moments throughout my life and had to learn to dig myself out of darkness. Humanly I couldn’t do it alone, it took spiritual strength to get up, learn from the experience, grow, and keep moving forward!
I want to be remembered for how I made others feel, and how I contributed to society in a positive and transformational way. As a resilient and strong woman that didn’t allow life’s obstacles to stop me from achieving my goals and dreams.
Pricing:
- $2.50 Traditional Limbers 9 oz cup
- $3.50 Specialty Limbers 9 oz cup
- $5.00 Parfait 12 oz cup
- $15.00 Large Desserts
- $25.00-$60 Catering Trays
Contact Info:
- Website: https://borikenlimbersandmore.godaddysites.com/
- Instagram: @borikenlimbers
- Other: TikTok @maricelis_mua
Image Credits
Maria Pagan
