The following are testimonies from women who have been in the Destiny House program:
(Actual names have been changed to protect the identity of the women involved in the program)
“I was a stripper/dancer at the age of 19. I was drunk and drugged
out for most of; well, all of my adult life. I have been attacked many
times by tricks and my boyfriends and my pimps. I started to get a sense
of death maybe by the tricks or the pimps….I was having bad anxiety,
drinking more, doing more coke, just a sense of worthlessness. I was
lonely, suicidal, angry, I couldn’t sleep, it was just all bad! November
of 2009 I stopped hoeing/prostituting. Jesus saved me out of slavery of
money, drugs, pimps. (A friend) got me a job… I got fired after 3 wks. I
was going back to hoeing, it’s what I knew. That is when (a friend)
gave me Annie’s number and I got in contact with her.
"Being
in the Destiny House was such a great stepping stone to a (normal)
life. It was everything combined… (that) helped me
grow closer to Jesus. I learned that there are people who care. I
learned to forgive. I feel I have changed a lot. I seem happier. I
really feel Jesus has
changed me from the inside out. "
I am looking forward to going to school. I am looking forward to
starting my new life. I am looking forward to where God is going to take
me on this journey.”
Before The Destiny House program I was briefly forced into
prostitution. Before that, though, I was just a regular teenager
experiencing life. I was in high school, playing sports and hanging out
with friends on the weekend. I was doing well and moving forward. My
life was normal without chaos but I believe now my foundation was not
fully secure.
"While
being in the Destiny House program I have gained self-confidence,
self-respect and now have a well-stabled foundation. I’ve learned how to
handle certain people in different situations, boundaries, and how to
manage my finances to be secure. My relationship with Jesus has grown
stronger. I believe I am now a much stronger individual. I also believe
that I can accomplish whatever I put my mind to."
I am now looking forward to moving on with my life and focusing on my
accomplishments. I have goals and things to look forward to that will
help further myself.
“When I came in (to The Destiny House) I was an unbeliever … but I
knew God was real. I got saved when I went to church. I got healed by God, and He planted a seed inside of me, that
is growing daily. I had no family but now I have people who truly love
me, and want the best for me. Because of them I know I can make it. I
love Annie and all the volunteers that helped in my recovery. With the help of the volunteers and Destiny House my life
has been changed forever.
"I
gained self-love, courage peace. I came to understand that I am a
princess in the eyes of God, that I am His daughter. He gave me peace. I
don’t need a pimp. God has a plan for my life. "
I want to go to nursing school; I want to get a job. I want to continue my walk with God.”
“Before coming here (The Destiny House) I had moved over 50 times…
running from (pimps). It was a living nightmare, one I wish I never went
through. One day God reached out to me and told me it was time for me
to get help and heal. So Hookers For Jesus came to rescue me, and brought me to church.
"I’ve
gained a little bit of self-control. I gained family. It felt good to
have a family again and to have people love and care about me. Being a
hooker for 18 years I lost that loving and care so it felt good to have
that in my life again. My relationship with God is still in progress it
grows closer each day."
My plans for the future are very simple. I just want (Austria) back all
the way. I just want to be healthy, happy (and) have a job. As for
family, I want to be happy and strong with (my family). As for friends,
well, the ones I made at Destiny House and Hookers For Jesus, I will always stay in touch with.