Brittni – 2014 Graduate

I don’t remember much of my childhood before my parents’ divorce when I was eight. Church was forced on me at a young age, so I grew to be scared and intimidated by it. My parents were emotionally absent, and I was frequently criticized. When I was about 12, I was sexually abused and felt so much shame. This only added to the hurt I kept inside from being caught in the middle between my parents. I also faced bullying and comparison at school. I tried to numb the pain with eating disorder behavior and with sports. I eventually ended up on psychiatric medications at age 15.

I found out about Mercy through a friend I met at an eating disorder treatment center. She was handing out books from Mercy, and I received one called “Starved.” That book helped me realize God cares about me even when I mess up and I am not perfect. I finally applied to the program two years later.

At Mercy, I sensed God’s tangible presence and could not deny that He was real and He loved me. A turning point for me was when I realized I no longer was controlled by my eating disorder or scared of food. I also learned who I truly am in Christ and that I can go to Him for anything. God has completely turned my life from destruction and misery to victory! He has delivered me from depression, an eating disorder that was slowly killing me, self-harm, and drug addiction. He turned my mourning into dancing and gave me a new identity in Him. I learned that my God is so big and He loves me beyond comprehension. I learned that there is nothing impossible with Him. He is my heavenly Father, and He deeply cares about and wants to know me.

After I graduate from Mercy, my plans are to be a nanny and possibly open a faith-based daycare someday. I want to go to ministry school, serve others, and grow in spiritual maturity. I also want to focus on music ministry and hope to eventually share my music and story with the world.

I am thankful for the love and obedience to the Lord that the Mercy donors show through their giving. Their generosity and prayers have truly saved me! I can’t say enough about how thankful I am.