I grew up knowing who God was and knowing that Jesus loved me and died for me, but I did not feel like I deserved a love like that. I struggled with feelings of worthlessness, abandonment, and of feeling second-best.
As I got older those feelings evolved into anger, bitterness, shame, and unhealthy relationship attachments. I began to live a promiscuous and spiritually damaging lifestyle. There were pockets of time that I spent in God’s presence, but for the most part, my late teens and early twenties were spent in selfish and promiscuous immaturity.
Coming to Mercy I was lost, confused, ashamed, and angry. So angry. I did not expect to be lovingly embraced by a community of healing Christian women. The beginning of my Mercy journey was most definitely an adjustment. I went from being able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, to a very structured schedule, and it took time for it to feel even a little normal.
Being at Mercy has been a true test of patience, but it has all been worth it. Before Mercy, I was struggling to accept God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness towards me. But now I have learned that a part of having faith is to accept God’s gift that He has already given me.
I learned many new, healthy coping strategies that I can use when I am in a difficult time or situation. Truth statements, two-way journaling, and gratitude lists are a few of these strategies that have been essential to me during my time here. I look forward to using them in my regular day-to-day life.
After graduating I will be moving to a new city, attending university for art, and getting involved at a church. I hope to use my education to glorify God and His kingdom.
To all the donors, thank you, thank you, thank you. What you are giving each and every single young woman who comes here is the most life-changing thing. Many of us have nowhere to go, have few options left, and are angry, bitter, and ashamed. You have been a part of helping us find freedom in Christ.