“I was looking for an escape, but I didn’t know how.”

Neglect has followed Mikitha nearly her entire life. Growing up in an unstable household, she faced a daily uphill battle — leaving her with painful memories and scars that drove her to deep depression and low self-esteem. “It was a really rough childhood,” she remembers.

But when neglect turned to abuse, Mikitha fled. She stayed with her boyfriend for a while, living with him even after they broke up. It wasn’t long, however, before that situation turned abusive, too.

“It was toxic,” Mikitha says. “I didn’t have the confidence to get out.”

Mikitha quietly researched shelters for months. “I was looking online even while I was in the relationship on and off,” she explains. “I wanted to find somewhere safe to go, but never called — until I did.”

Finally, Mikitha walked out of her situation — and through the doors of Joy House, our shelter for women and children. Feeling safe, nurtured and cared for, Mikitha realized this was her opportunity for healing and growth. Not only that, but each day at MRM, she’s learning more and more from staff and other women in the program about how much God loves her.

“God has moved tremendously through those classes,” Mikitha says. “I was about to give up on life, but they showed me how valuable I am as a person, and how valuable Christ sees me.”

By God’s grace, Mikitha’s healing has given her renewed confidence — and new hope for the future. “As an adult, I’ve had to deal with my trauma. But God gave me the confidence to keep going,” she says. “Now, any time I get discouraged, I remember Philippians 4:13. ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’”

This holiday season, Mikitha is grateful for the Savior who gives her strength — and who continues to use friends like you to support her.

“I want to thank the donors, for caring about people who are less fortunate,” she says. “I pray that God continues to bless them!”