08/05/2022
Hi my name is DeAndra. I was born in Titusville, Florida. As a child I enjoyed four wheeling, camping, and amusement parks. I am the oldest of six children. As the oldest child I always felt that it was my responsibility to care for my siblings. When I was 7 years old we moved to Ohio and shortly after my parents divorced. Although my mother was not an absent mother, my father had sole custody of us. Living with my father had its ups and downs which landed us in foster care. At the age of 14 years old my mother regained custody of us and we moved back to Florida. At 16 years old I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol to better fit into my new surroundings. By 18 years old I got into a serious relationship and ended up pregnant with my beautiful daughter. During that time I attempted to change my life and I enrolled in college. Shortly after, my daughters father and I broke up and to cope with being a single mom I started working in adult night clubs. Trying to cope with the adult night club scene became so overwhelming that I began numbing with opiates. That lifestyle led me to the use of iv drugs and smoking crack co***ne. I eventually was not allowed to work in any adult night clubs due to my appearance and ended up in prositution. 7 years of homelessness and prositution landed me at my bottom. One night I found myself on a stairwell attempting to get high and I became so frustrated I cried out to God. I prayed and said "If you can hear me, can you please pull me out of this?". Four days later I was in a detox, still not completely surrendered. God was shutting every door to leave detox and go back to my old life. My sister told me about Calvary House and that's when I finally surrendered control. On February 27th, 2021 I found myself in the driveway of Calvary House. I remember sitting on the garage floor crying and saying to somebody, "It's finally over." In Calvary House I was able to reflect on how God actually had His hand on me even when I was running from Him. I was given opportunities to address trauma. I also learned how to deal with feelings as they came because feelings were foriegn to me. Another way God has shown me His love is through my relationship with my daughter, which is growing more beautiful each day. God is changing my old mindset that He is punishing me by showing me His love through the healthy relationships He has blessed me with. I now work at Calvary Chapel Church and have been sober 18 months. If He did it for me, He wants to do it for you too!
Genesis 16:13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
———————————————————————
Calvary House for Women is a FREE residential addiction ministry of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to heal and restore women from addiction, abuse, or any other brokenness.
If you or someone you know is battling with addiction and needs help, please reach out to us and we would love to answer any questions you have.
Calvary House for Women
Phone # 954-664-7675
Email: [email protected]: calvaryftl.org/ministry/calvary-house-women/
