CHANGED LIVES
Stephanie - Graduate
She just graduated from South Georgia House of Hope this summer. But, freedom was not always where she lived...
Stephanie Kelley comes from what would described as a “normal” home. Her dad, mom and siblings loved her. She remembers being fifteen years old, having friends and preparing for the tenth grade. Then something happened that rocked her world. Maybe it shouldn’t have, but it did.
Stephanie’s dad got another job in another city and state. It was a real step up.
Who could have known that the move would open the door for upheaval in her life. “It had nothing to do with my family,” she says. “It had everything to do with my
choices.” Stephanie hid the fact that she was angry for moving. Her anger grew and she became rebellious.
To cover the loss of her friends, and lack of happiness, she turned to alcohol and marijuana.
She made all new friends, with all the wrong people.
Amanda -Graduate
Amanda is married to her best friend and soul mate. She is a mother to 6 beautiful children. She and her husband are buying their first home. Each day she wakes up thankful for her blessings. For Amanda, life is so good! But it has not always been this way... Amanda found healing at South Georgia House of Hope. “I grew up starving for love. My dad was abusive and alcoholic. He was abusive to my mom and all the children." As a young girl, starving for love, Amanda went on what she calls a “man- hunt.” That brought her to her first pregnancy at 17. She quit school to care for her son. The child’s father couldn’t help. At 19, she was pregnant with her second child. “I was mad...I didn’t want it.” Even though he was abusive, I stayed with my partner because I thought it was the right thing to do. After that child’s birth, the abuse escalated. “At that point, the need for a man’s love enveloped me. Another partner introduced me to meth. He and I connected through drugs.”
This was a connection that would last exactly 30 days.
Amanda - Graduate
In 2005, at the age of 20, I came to House of Hope with fear and a broken heart. Since I had been in three programs before this one, being court ordered to House of Hope was God's protection over me. After spending nineteen months at House of Hope I completed in October of 2006 and have seen God's continued provisions in my life. Upon my completion, I enrolled in college, got a job, and steadfastly became the woman of God He created me to be. After taking interpreter sign language for a year at a school in North Carolina, I desired more tools to be able to help others. The Lord opened a door to pursue a degree in Sociology here at Valdosta State University. I am now married to an amazing husband with a beautiful son named Oliver. I fully enjoy being a wife, raising my son, and motivating others by being a fitness coach. I want to tell you that transformation is possible: I believe if you truly allow God to change what is in your heart, the rest of your soul and body will follow. My favorite verse is “I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13