I was adopted when I was just 3 days old. Growing up, I experienced several episodes of abuse, so much so that by the time I was a teenager, I had no sense of self-worth. At the age of 17, I left home. I married at 18 but that ended in divorce by the time I was 19.

Not only was I dealing with a failed relationship, I also was trying to cope with the trauma of an abortion and a miscarriage, which led to a tendency to get addicted to things that I thought would make me feel better. I was trapped, and the harder I tried to overcome the worse it got.

Things started to change for me when I was 28 years old and I had a child. My entire life had been full of sin, but when I saw my baby I was so full of love that I knew without a doubt that God loved me and that He was my only hope. I always believed in God, but never wanted to sacrifice the things that I thought made me happy or feel good. Thankfully, God never gave up on me and He kept looking out for me even when I didn’t deserve it.

I can look back on my life, especially all the disasters that were meant to destroy me and see how God turned them around for my good. Miraculously, I stopped drinking 3 months before I got pregnant, and stopped smoking 2 weeks into my pregnancy. I lost my job and home, but still God always provided for me, and we never had to do without what we needed.

Two years ago I walked into River of Life Ministries, and I have not been the same since. I am still a work-in-progress, but I am recovering, learning, and experiencing God more everyday. I found love, safety, and healing with the fellowship of these wonderful people. Four years after the birth of my son, and I can say that I am free from my addictive behaviors. Also, I am happy to report that I am now enrolled in college to earn my first degree, but more important is the freedom and peace that comes from having a relationship with God and my church. One thing that helped me is I have learned that life is hard no matter what, but with God you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.

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