Meet Desiree
"Before the Mission I got into some trouble, I got felony charges for grand theft auto. I knew I had an addiction. I knew I needed help and it was something more than I could handle myself. When i was in jail, I finally opened the Bible and ask God to help me and guide me. I met this lady in jail and I stuck by her side because she was a real godly woman and an inspiration to me. I began to write letters to programs everywhere and the House of Hope was the first on to come get me.
Once I began to walk with the Lord I began to feel this big whole in my soul just be filled. I began to feel alive and to make my amends and figure out what my deepest issues were. God’s been restoring my life and my relationships with everyone - my kids are in my life today. I wouldn't have been able to do that without God in my life."
Q: What’s your favorite class you’ve taken so far?
A: Keep Your Love On. It’s about your 5 Love Languages. How to give and receive love and find that balance with someone. Love for me is a big thing. In this class, I finally learned how to love who I am and accept who I am. And that’s something I’ve never done before. I’ve got so much joy & peace now.
"I really struggled when I lost my niece. I had just started walking with the Lord and I had this new relationship with Him, but I had to step away the day I got the call about my niece and ask myself if I was starting to doubt God. Asking Him why? But my favorite verse that really helped me was Proverbs 3:5-6 [“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”]. That’s what stuck with me and helped me - to keep trusting Him and to put my faith in Him because He’s not going to let me down. He’s always going to be there for me. So I struggled with losing my niece and I didn’t think I could get through that, but I kept all my hope in God. I was able to reach out to my brother and try to help him. I had the right words to say that I wouldn't have been able to say before, when I was in my addiction. I would have just tried to cope by numbing myself and never work through it, but you can only stay numb for so long. But that’s not who I am anymore. I’m a whole new person. Just open your heart and give God a chance. He’s always going to be there for you, just waiting for you to call onto Him."