04/13/2026
She arrived at her first Rise Up Survivor Retreat with a mix of excitement and hesitation. Though she had been in the residential program for a few months, opening her heart did not come easily. Acceptance was something she had never truly known. Her story was marked by deep pain, abuse, and loneliness. Trusting others felt unfamiliar.
But as the days unfolded, something began to shift. In the quiet moments, in shared meals, in laughter and prayer, she slowly let her guard down. She began to reach for God, inviting Him into the places that hurt the most. She connected with the other women and the staff, experiencing a kind of care she had never known before.
On the final day, as everyone sat together in a circle, she looked around with tears streaming down her face and a radiant smile. “For the first time in my life,” she said, “I know I’m accepted. I finally have a family.”
