Osiyo! (Hello in Cherokee)
I am a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I am from Oklahoma, and I am a Cherokee citizen. Most of all, I am a child of God.
Here is my story…I found myself married to the most abusive man – physically, mentally, sexually and verbally. He often told me he wouldn’t stop until he cracked my skull and saw my brains. I let the abuse continue because he introduced me to meth, which numbed the pain and left me with no emotions.
And I found out it wasn’t only me he was abusing; I found out he was doing the same thing to his granddaughter. He told me that if I told anyone he would do the same thing to all of my family. He brutally molested me that night, and I made up my mind to kill him. But first I had to get him away from our families. He had just lost his job as a ranch hand, and we talked about going to Arizona.
So as part of my plan, we moved to Mesa, and everything fell into place. A truck driver took us to Phoenix Homeless Welcome Center. After one month on the streets, I was put into a respite hospital and had my toe amputated. I was given a case manager who saw my husband spit in my face when he visited. He said he would get me an apartment if I left that jerk.
In my new place I had protection from the Native gang, but my husband started sleeping on the streets in my area. After hiding out for a month, I went to the store, but he was waiting for me with a knife and chased me down the road. I prayed for help. As I was praying, a tree fell across the street.
The distraction stopped him for a moment, and a store owner saw him chasing me and opened his door and locked it. God had protected me. I never saw my husband again.
I have been hesitant to share my story because I was afraid he would find me again. I recently learned he is in prison for two consecutive 10-year terms.
I have been at the Lighthouse for two and a half years now, and I am free to share the story of how God delivered me.
I am remarried to Justin – a kind, Godly man, and I am on staff as a front desk receptionist and women’s upstairs supervisor. I also teach a class on drug and alcohol recovery.
God redeemed my broken life, and gave me a new story to tell.
Wado (Thank You)
God redeemed my broken life, and gave me a new story to tell.
