Turning Wrong Choices into Right Decisions

Denise (left) enjoys helping our staff in the kitchen.

For the first eight years of her life, Denise was abused. "Physically, emotionally, sexually—every way you can think of," she says quietly, the memories still painful. Finally, a teacher noticed the signs and did something about it. She called social services, and Denise was placed in foster care.

But that situation was less than ideal for the hurting young girl who longed for understanding, stability and healing love. "You're treated differently than your foster parents treat their own kids," Denise shares. "And I was shipped around from place to place. I didn't know how to deal with it." She eventually turned to drugs and alcohol, thinking that was the way to cope. "First it was recreational use. Then I became addicted. As I grew older, I wanted more and more, and I started getting into trouble."

Denise had her own apartment for a few years—and a good job. But she lost them both when she was arrested on charges stemming from her drug use . . . and sent to prison. She served four years and was released.

And like so many of the hundreds of ex-offenders who are set free in North Dakota every year, she had no place to go. So she came to Northlands Rescue Mission

We listened as Denise explained the pain and poor decisions that had nearly ruined her life—and she was ready to start over. But with no family, she had only old friends to look to for help. She soon realized, however, they would only lead her back to old habits. So she turned to us instead, and we assured her she had come to the right place.

In our care, Denise has a safe place to stay and is receiving Christian guidance and life- and job-skills training while she readjusts to society, finds employment and heals a lifetime of emotional wounds. "The Mission is teaching me responsibility—I work in the kitchen—and it's helping me prepare to support myself. I know things will get better. I know someone out there will give me a second chance at a job and I'll be able to live on my own again."