Makayla – 2015 Graduate

My childhood was full of violence and abuse. I was abandoned by my family, and I spiraled into a huge depression. I couldn’t get out of my pit, and no one knew how to help me. I looked to drugs and alcohol to try to fill a void. I was losing control and developed an eating disorder as a way to regain a sense of control.

I found out about Mercy through family friends who knew a former graduate. I decided to apply because I needed help, and I knew I needed God in my life. I was pretty broken when I arrived. I was not entirely sure how Mercy was going to be able to help me, but I still had hope that God could reach me.

One of my turning points at Mercy was realizing how loved I am. I didn’t know what love was. While at Mercy, I was constantly hearing that I was loved by people who did not really know me and by a God who desires a relationship with me! Another turning point came through an exercise in my counseling that allowed me to open up about the ways that a specific individual had hurt me. It showed me a lot of things I had been suppressing.

While I was at Mercy God completely changed me. I went from being a girl who had no hope to a girl who has enough hope to spread to a nation. I have now established a relationship with Jesus.

After graduating from Mercy I plan on going to school to become a behaviorist for children with autism.

I would like to tell Mercy supporters thank you for your constant support. Without it I wouldn’t have been able to afford to find healing and hope. Thank you for being willing and faithful to Mercy!