"Jewels Shining
Brightly"
With Her head Held High
The day Tonya came to
Bethany House is a day we will all remember. She walked though
the door with her head hung; with an almost tangible aura of
sadness surrounding her. We all wondered about her previous
life. Why did she seem so heartbroken? Later, we discovered that Tonya had grown up in an array of
foster homes and had been abused, neglected, and beaten. As
we began to know her, one thing stood out, Tonya was a survivor,
someone who wanted to learn and grow despite how her
life had been. Today, Tonya loves to cook, organize, and clean.
She is an incredible caregiver. If you want the best Potato
Pancakes, she's your girl! Tonya has had many difficulties
with her pregnancy and was on bed rest for over a month. As
of now, she is off bed rest and enjoying doing the "normal" things
again. We have seen such remarkable growth in Tonya since her
arrival. We are so proud of her. She now walks with her
head held high and a smile on her face. This is what Bethany
House is all about; this is what your contribution allows us
to accomplish -- to love and help each girl become an independent,
self-sufficient woman of God.
A Diamond in the Rough
Rachel came from a Christian home where she was loved and
over protected by her mother. It was clear that she needed
to learn life skills to be able to take care of herself and
her baby. Later, we were to find out that Rachel had been raped
in her teens and molested at a very young age. Her mom became
over protective because she had felt so guilty about what happened
to her precious daughter. As Rachel began our program she started
to change and we began to see this frightened, uncertain girl
begin to blossom. Rachel is becoming more confident in herself
and learning all she can about having a healthy baby. She is
changing her eating habits, working part time and will be volunteering
in the community. The hardest part of this journey is working
on deep personal issues. Thank you for making this safe home
possible for girls like Rachel.
From Tears to Joy
Most of you remember our Christmas newsletter
where we introduced our newest baby girl Jaydalin and her
mom, Kristy. Yet another success story! Kristy is in the
process of getting her GED, and is doing very well. Jaydalin
is now four months old and has started laughing when we say" Boo." It
is so wonderful to hear her little laugh and see the happy
smile on her face! Kristy will be taking a little bit of
us all with her as well as leaving a bit of herself behind
when she transitions out. You see, she is our comedy relief.
Ever need a laugh?--Call Kristy. These women are such unique
individuals with so much to share. Thank you for helping
them discover joy after tears.
Jewels shine brightly every day at Bethany House. You help
make these women sparkle!
Thank you!