Coming from a challenging upbringing, I wasn’t making good decisions as a young adult. Although I had become a Christian when I was fourteen, I’d burned bridges with family and friends, gotten into legal trouble, and largely given up on God a few years later. Finally, seven months into a pregnancy and separated from the baby’s father, I had nowhere to go.
Crying out to God, I asked for help. As I prayed, the name “Hannah’s House” entered my mind in big, black letters. At the time, I didn’t know what that name would come to mean to me—I’d never heard of Hannah’s House and had to do some searching to find it.
God continued to answer my prayers. Speaking to the then-director, Virginia, I learned that because I was still in a work release program after violating my probation, I was not eligible for residency at Hannah’s House. All the same, I knew this was where I needed to be. I called Virginia every day for two weeks, pleading with her to accept my application.
Later, I learned that during these two weeks, no one else applied to Hannah’s House. Finally, with no other incoming residents, Virginia took the issue to the board, which agreed to house me. My time at Hannah’s House was one of deep gratitude, both for a place to stay and for the safety I felt in the home. Barb, the house manager, felt like a grandmother who loved and encouraged me faithfully.
I was also grateful for the program requirements. The expectations at Hannah’s House taught me that I could do it. I could be a mom. I could get and keep a job. I could build a life and a family. I found a job at a childcare facility that allowed me to take my son to work with me, which was a great blessing. Even so, God wasn’t finished yet.
Although my baby’s father, Chad, and I had split up initially, we rekindled our relationship. Hannah’s House encouraged me to build a healthy, positive relationship with him, and after passing a background check, Chad was able to periodically visit Hannah’s House and experience the love and safety that I felt. The impact on him was immense. Chad became a Christian during this time, and I rededicated my life to God. When our son was about seven months old, we married.
Since then, God has blessed us with another child and a grandchild, and our whole family lives in relationship with Him. To share the great gift that Hannah’s House has been in our lives, we are now opening a maternity shelter in Muskegon, and we aim to give women in crisis the same blessings we received from Hannah’s House.
I found myself in a place in my life I had never thought I would be in- lost, helpless, and hopeless, very minimal support, no local family, jobless, and of course, homeless. How could I possibly provide and care for this tiny child growing inside of me, as an extremely dependent person without even a driver’s license, nor a high school education? I was terrified at the prospect of being alone and not knowing how to survive.
After what seemed like a long, grueling five months of doing nothing much other than lying in bed crying all day, the first piece of the puzzle was put into place. In late October of 2013, I received a phone call from our most dedicated director. Finally, there was an opening for me. Still unsure of how my life would unfold, I felt a glimmer of hope as I moved into this cozy haven we know as Hannah’s House.
Within the first week of my stay, I was faced with a series of questions. “What were your dreams before you got yourself into this situation?” “What are your goals?” “Where do you see yourself in the future?” My reply, “Ummmmm…well, ya know, maybe nursing, but I have too much going on in my life.” “So why not do it?” the staff member asked.
It was that very moment, I knew my life was going to be different. Hope, determination, and a strong will arose in my heart knowing I had the loving support of the staff at Hannah’s House. Someone actually believed I could accomplish something. For the first time in my life, I believed what everyone else already knew. I COULD do this, and I WOULD do this.
As a butterfly coming out of a coccoon, I started becoming the girl God created me to be. He was doing something in my heart as I watched the love of Jesus displayed daily in my life at Hannah’s House. Finally, with emotional support and a roof over my head, the love for my baby boy who later would bring me great joy, began to blossom each day. I began to collect items needed as donations came pouring in. I was so blessed to be at Hannah’s House at Christmas time. The entire downstairs was flooded with every kind of baby item you could imagine for us girls.
Six weeks after my beautiful son was born, God provided funding for me to go to school. The staff also assisted me each day in my goal to obtain my driver’s license. I graduated from Career Quest with a 4.0 GPA and received awards for five certifications. I was also able to secure a full-time job with benefits.
As I have accomplished all the goals I set out to do, it is time for the bird to fly out of the nest. Bittersweet as I leave Hannah’s House. I will forever be grateful to God for the love, support, guidance, and encouragement they have provided as I have been on this journey. The staff at Hannah’s House have truly taught me independence. I will take with me the survival skills and tools, but most of all the love of Jesus.
Hannah’s House is truly an opportunity to learn and receive emotional and spiritual support, to accomplish things I never believed I could achieve. I am grateful for this opportunity and to those who poured their hearts and time and invested in my life and for all those extra pushes along the way. Although my story does not end here, it is time for me to spread my wings and not only fly, but soar. All glory be to God.