A Resident Story
We had the opportunity to hear the story of Claudia, one of our residents. Her positive attitude and overall love of her life was a beautiful testimony to what we are doing at The Dwelling Place, and how it is impacting generations to come.
My childhood was rough, but I had a loving family. I was abused when I was a kid by my cousin, sexually abused. I didn’t say nothing. We moved a lot, my dad was a felon, he stole a lot and did a lot of criminal activity so we moved a lot to different places. I was hardheaded and stubborn. I did my own thing. I had my own rules in life. My parents disciplined me but I still did me. My mom put me in jail to teach me a lesson. I cried for that little hour or two, then went back to my old ways. My childhood was, I guess, not a normal childhood, but it was decent.
When I grew up, I wanted to be married, I wanted to have multiple kids. I wanted to be a nurse, so I went to school for nursing but after I went through the internship, I said, “No, this is not for me!” I wanted to travel and I did that in my 20’s. I traveled to different states before I had kids to learn and grow. During that time, I thought this is love, right here, this is freedom this is what I wanna feel like!
I met my abuser my sophomore year in high school. I was instantly in love with him, butterflies and nervousness. Every time he walked into a classroom, I just walked away, went to the other side. My teachers and friends were like, “don’t mess with him, he’s a bad influence” and I said, “I love bad boys! Look at that face!”
The first time he ever abused me was in June 2010. I ignored the red flags, saying “No, he wouldn’t do that to me!” He didn’t do it again for a couple years until he started using drugs. When he started hitting me, I just bypassed it. I lost my dignity, my confidence... I lost a lot, but I stuck with it. I felt like I had hope so that he could change in different ways, but he just got worse. I finally left when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I was literally deciding, “do I tell my abuser or don’t I?” I didn’t want my daughter at first, but God gave her to me for a reason. Cindy, my case worker, called me and asked me why I want to be here [at The Dwelling Place], and I told her, I don’t know, I just don’t know yet.
When the pandemic happened, at that time, God was telling me to keep calling and reaching out. I kept pushing to get here. When I moved in, I got scared and I was having some anger problems and challenges within myself. I wanted to leave within that first 30 days. I thought, “I can’t do this! It’s too many rules!” In time, I learned that it’s good boundaries and it is good way to love and have a sisterhood pact with people that have been through what you’ve been through. You’re not by yourself, you’re not alone through your challenges in life.
My kids are survivors. My kids are strong and they made me have courage to stand up for them. When we first got to The Dwelling Place, they were nervous and scared, they used to hate each other and just didn’t trust people. But they opened up and they trust people around them. Right now to this day they are crazy, loving, funny, caring, very sensitive to others, and they speak more. They still have some little behaviors but it’s minor and it’s a work in progress. You can see how they’re loving and caring. It was good they felt safe here.
My favorite part of TDP was the sisterhood bond we had in my house. We trusted each other, we love each other, we cry together, we laugh together and we do sisterhood things together. Even when people move on, we still keep in contact and do things as a family. This is the most memorable part that I love. I love that we could change each other and push each other to strive and give encouragement, but at the same time we speak the truth to each other, even if we can’t handle it or we’re mad at each other. We build that bond in love to be more like God.
I am currently working for a home care business where I take care of vulnerable adults. I go to their homes and help them if they need food or clothes or if they need help cleaning their house or anything. They’re helping me learn from my dad’s mistakes and to love people the way they are and how God made them. Everybody has a story. Everybody has their own issues but it has taught me to actually listen, understand them and watch them strive for their own goals as well. They encourage me to do better.
The challenges you have to deal with are hard. You have to take ownership with what you did in your past and know that God forgave you through it and that you’re loved. I didn’t know how to do that or receive love, but I strived through it. I’m thankful, because I still could have been in that bad situation I was in, just suffering, not knowing what to do and not breaking those generational cycles and those generational curses.
Pray with us, as we lift up our current residents on their unique journeys, that they find hope, healing and the love of Jesus Christ in each step. Pray that they continue to grow in their faith, and guide their families in love and peace.