Embracing New Beginnings: A Journey of Faith and Healing

A New Chapter for Sisters in Services

Sisters in Services is embarking on a new precipice of Grace and Faith. One morning, I received a profound quote that resonated deeply with me. I had become comfortable in my life in Louisiana, where I engaged in counseling, occasional mission trips, and our homeless projects. I also served our sisters in Christ who were coming out of incarceration. However, God wanted to elevate everything to a higher level.

Last year, I took over a 450-acre ranch on the south Texas border. This ranch was previously owned by my ex-husband. In 2021, just as the Lord parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, He parted it for me and my children. We were able to leave an extremely abusive living environment caused by my ex-husband. We started anew in Louisiana, where my family originates, with the intention of never returning to my ex or the ranch that held so many painful memories.

The Healing Journey

My children and I went through years of healing. Glory be to Jesus! I had no idea what God would do with the broken pieces of pain I had accumulated during my 13 years of marriage. He took those pieces, healed me, and set me free mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. This healing was so profound and overflowing that I knew it must be shared with others.

When God heals you, it touches every area of your life. He restores and rejuvenates, and that is precisely what He did for me. In fact, I was restored to a greater capacity than I had ever experienced in my life, especially in my relationship with Him. Where the enemy meant to destroy, God turned it for good.

A Call to Action

Last year, my ex was incarcerated, and I was asked to return to the ranch to help with the sale of its assets due to his tremendous debt. Reluctantly, I went, primarily to ensure that the horses I had raised and loved would go to good homes. He had put the ranch into bankruptcy and then defaulted on it.

When I arrived, I found it challenging to walk into our old house. However, God gave me a vision of women and children in a large home that was in the process of being built on the property. This vision could only come from God, as I initially intended only to find homes for my horses and leave again, never to return.

During this time, I learned that there was no place for battered women within a 45-mile radius. The lack of resources for victims of trafficking was also alarming. The Lord kept bringing this to my attention, prompting me to take action. Thus began my journey of obedience to help get the ranch out of bankruptcy.

The Struggles Ahead

God transformed this chaos-filled shipwreck—what the bankruptcy judge called it—into something that began to show signs of redemption. However, the last three months have been challenging. Everything started to fall apart. In the back of the ranch, there is a large facility I had begun to manage, and through it, the ranch was funded. Unfortunately, this facility started to shut down, including the electrical grid.

Initially, I thought my ex's actions had cursed it. I ventured into the oil wells on the property, hoping they could help pay for everything. Yet, to this day, I have not found anyone with integrity to assist with this project. I would gaze at the unfinished house, remembering God's promise for the women and children who had suffered as I had.

A Message of Hope

Despite the physical challenges, God was speaking to me. He said, "Some things have to die in order for new things to live." I realized that everything touched by wickedness had to die so that the Lord could bring forth new beginnings. This truth applies to all aspects of life. Every pain and torment from our past must be released. We cannot hold on to it because when we let go, it is in that very space that new beginnings can flourish.

Our environments, self-reflection, and tainted images must be released. Even when it looks terrible, we must speak the promises of God into our situations and believe that all things are possible for those who trust in Him.

Even now, the house is not built, and the ranch is generating no income. Yet, I choose to believe in the word God spoke to me. After all, this place is His, and everything within it belongs to Him. I speak the promises of life, believing that God will take care of this ranch. Where there was once abuse and tears, He will bring restoration. This place will become a blessing and a safe haven for those who have endured similar struggles. He can create gardens in the dry, desert lands.

Moving Forward Together

As we move forward, I invite you to join me on this journey. Together, we can cultivate hope and healing. We can create a community where women and children find refuge and support. Let us embrace the new beginnings that God has in store for us.

In this journey, we will not only heal ourselves but also uplift those around us. We will be the hands and feet of hope for those who feel lost. Together, we can make a difference, one life at a time.

Let us remember that healing is a process, and every step forward is a victory. As we walk this path, let us encourage one another and share our stories. For in our stories lies the power to inspire and transform lives.

Join me as we embrace this new chapter with open hearts and unwavering faith. Together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and those we serve.

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