I love myself
After losing her apartment, Debra had no one and nowhere to turn to for help. “Before I came to Wheeler Mission, I was hurting…”
Debra was abused as a child. This—combined with her father’s alcoholism and anger issues—led her to isolate herself from the rest of the world.
“I was a depressed little girl. I never talked to anyone. All I wanted to do was be by myself,” she says.
Unable to talk about her problems, she began using drugs to numb her pain. For 30 years, she struggled with addiction. She was a functioning addict—working and paying her bills—but she was hurting. “I felt lonely all the time, and I didn’t feel loved,” she says. “But when I did drugs, it took the pain away.”
Even though Debra tried to hide from others, she could not continue to hide from the trauma that led to her substance abuse. Eventually, she lost her apartment and even her beloved dog, and she found herself facing homelessness.
“I was hurting and had nowhere to go. I lost everything.”
Realizing that she couldn’t go on alone, Debra asked a woman at church to bring her to Wheeler, where she joined our Higher Ground Addiction Recovery and Discipleship Program.
“It was my first time being homeless, so I had no idea what to expect,” she says—but Debra immediately felt welcomed by our caring staff. Through classes, Christ-centered counseling, and the safe, nurturing environment of Wheeler Mission, she began to heal emotionally and spiritually. And soon, she discovered the deep, healing power of Christ’s love for her. “His love and presence are so real to me—it’s like He’s walking right next to me!”
Now, she is looking forward to going back to work and moving into her own place. She wants to get a dog and come back to Wheeler Mission to give back to help others. Debra is grateful for YOU and your incredible generosity. Your prayers and support have helped change her life.
“When I came to Wheeler Mission, I didn’t love myself. Now I can truly look in the mirror and say I love myself,” she says. “The Mission brought Jesus into my life and changed me completely. I’m joyful and at peace.”
