St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru to a Spanish knight and a free black woman. The family was abandoned when Martin was young and he and his sister grew up in poverty as their mother struggled to care for them. Martin's mixed race status caused him much ridicule and condemnation. But Martin never retaliated. He offered all insults to God. As an adult, Martin joined the Dominicans and his days were filled with caring for the poor and nursing the sick, regardless of race or status. He found an orphanage and took care of slaves brought in from Africa.