Angie – 2013 Graduate

People I should have been able to trust sexually abused me from the age of 4 until I was 15 years old. Later on, I was raped on several occasions by different individuals. After so much abuse, I did not have any self-worth and turned to an eating disorder. I did not know who God truly was, and I was going to kill myself if I did not get help.

I had heard about Mercy from a friend over seven years ago. I finally decided to apply because I knew that I if I didn’t get help, I was going to kill myself. When I arrived at Mercy, I felt really alone and I didn’t know who I was. I was exhausted from trying to do life on my own.

After being at Mercy for about a month, I had a very real encounter with God, and after that experience I knew He was real. He began to show me how much He loved me, and I was able to finally feel His love. I realize now that He loves me for who I am and there is nothing I can ever do to make Him love me more than He already does. He has always been with me and He has always been carrying my heart. God has totally changed my outlook on life and now when I look back, I am able to identify many times where He got me out of different situations and performed miracles to keep me alive.

Also, having the accountability I needed at Mercy helped me be able to stop purging completely, which I used to do on a daily basis. Now I know that I can go on in life without being attached to my eating disorder.

After I graduate from Mercy, I am headed back to my home state. I plan on going to graduate school to get my occupational therapy license so I can work with children.

I am very thankful to the donors whose giving allowed me to come to Mercy so that my life could be restored. Thank you for giving me a second chance at life! Without Mercy, I would never have been able to see all the good there is in life. Being here has been a complete blessing, and God has already begun to show me the riches He has in store for me. Thank you for saving my life!