Testimonies

I was raised in an upper class home by a violent father and a mother who was into drugs, alcohol, and having affairs with young men.  I said I would never become like them, yet I did.  I met a young teen who was troubled and abused like I had been. I had a sick need to fix his life the way I wished someone had fixed mine. I did not yet know about co-dependency.  I soon after had an affair with him.  I was arrested and told to lie so that I would not get half of my life in prison.  I had asked Christ in my heart at a young age but never knew about giving him control/lordship over my life. I quickly ran back to Him and went to the chaplain who told me to tell the truth. I prayed for a scripture and opened the Bible to "The truth will set you free". I was afraid but decided to tell the whole truth to the judge.  I was sentenced to only 3 years.

I LEARNED HONESTY AND FAITH.
I went to jail and was told by the correctional officers that they would cut out the newspaper clippings about me so I did not get beat up.  One day the paper came with a nasty twist. The girls lined up to beat me and I knew it was over.  I stood up to die and a big girl who had been around jumped up and said "If any one wants to touch her you have to go through me, she brought me to chapel Sunday and I found God." I had heard of Angels but this was amazing.

I LEARNED TO OVERCOME FEAR
I was sent to prison I had never seen this side of life nor did I know it existed. In my holding cell there was a huge scary looking woman with a scar across her nose. I was afraid to use the bathroom with her in there. When we got assigned to a cell she of course was in mine. One day I was going to a prayer meeting and she said "I am going too." She did and she got radically saved.  She became an amazing soft, loving person.

I LEARNED WE ARE TO BE FISHERS OF MEN.
There was a to say the least an unhealthy Chaplain working there. We all prayed and had everyone we knew pray and God removed him and a amazing chaplain came who is upright and loves God.

I LEARNED TRIUMPH
When I first got there I had a hard time, I was not given my medication, my things were thrown around, on and on. After many Bible studies and having the CO's pass by and listen things changed dramatically. If someone lost a relative or had a crisis the CO would come to my cell and let me go pray with her.

I LEARNED GOD'S WILL
We began fasting one time a week. We held our own Bible Studies and it grew and grew. God began changing lives.

I LEARNED OBEDIENCE
I was not well one night and therefore skipped dinner. A CO came to my cell and said we were going to have sex, I was terrified and there was no way out of it. I heard exactly at that moment over the loud speaker ...... you have a visit.  It was the elders from my church. They just felt they should be there that day.

I LEARNED SAFETY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
After a prayer meeting I went back to my cell. I had suffered all my life with claustrophobia, depression, and agoraphobia. I had seen therapists all my life. I was instantly healed. Healed beyond understanding.

I LEARNED GOD STILL HEALS TODAY
Eventually I got out and I was going to help my cell mate get into Bible School when she got out. I went to take her and she got lost on the way.  I went to the college to apologize and they offered me her spot. I became Certified in addictions Counseling and met most all of my best friends to date in the school.

I LEARNED OF HIS GLORY
The course worked us through our own past and all our pain.

I LEARNED TO LET GO OF THE PAST
I could not get my daughter back after prison. I went to the church to get prayer and a young 18 yr. old girl said to me "you are always telling us to ask for miracles and expect them why don't you". I did and days later I received a call to go get my daughter.

I LEARNED OF MIRACLES
With my leaving and my daughter had much to overcome. She became a drug addict. One night I was on my face crying to God to help me with her. I heard his voice in my heart say "Dance like David Danced." I did, Then I heard "Will you do whatever I call you to do?"  I was sure it was what I deserved like go die in the dessert. He said "Open a home for women exiting jail/prison and their children."  My heart broke at that moment for all the women. In the past I would of thought that was crazy and run far from doing anything like that, But God broke me.

I LEARNED TO REJOICE
I volunteered as a counselor for many years.

I LEARNED TO BRING CHRIST TO MANY.
I wanted to join a Bible study like the one I had in prison so I searched the internet and found that the same organization was in my own town. They are like family now.

I LEARNED TO BE DILIGENT
I went to them telling of the vision I have now to open homes for women and their children and I learned that many have the same vision and we are meeting all ready to begin.

I LEARNED GOD'S TIMING
Grateful to be saved by GRACE