2/1/2016 Prayer Letters

"My name is Annette Smiley. I am a 54 year old mother of two and grandmother of six. I grew up in a home of domestic violence and alcoholism, the youngest of 8 children. My parents worked hard to take care of us so we thought we were a normal family. Work during the week and school for the kids. No drinking during the week, just the weekends. No violence during the week, just the weekends. Week-after-week-after-week. We did do normal things like family picnics, outings and family vacations, but there was no love or affection shown. However, in spite of this, we did know that we were loved.

I had had sex with a boy my first year of high school and got pregnant. I was scared to tell my parents. At six months, when I could not hide it any more, they made me get a saline abortion. So after I made the poor choice to have sex, and after the result of that, I felt like a disgrace to my family. I felt like I didn't belong and I wanted to belong to somebody.

I dropped out of school at the age of 14. That's when I left home and got into years of prostitution and many beatings... but that's love...belonging, right? I began to use drugs a few years later. I went to prison three different times. I became pregnant by my pimp, twice. One may ask, how can anything good come out of that? Well, I have two amazing daughters.
I wasn't brought up in church, however I knew there was a God. For the sake of time I am going to fast-forward to the last time I went to prison. I remember crying out to God to help me. When I got out I was able to get into Hope Place, a Christian based program for women and children who find themselves homeless. God answered my prayer. While there I had the opportunity to take Bible study classes, and the Healing Hearts study "The Hem of His Garment" (we called it 'His Hem') was one of them. I was very reluctant at first, however, God used these amazing ladies and His Word to show me there is healing from the pain of abortion, and to realize what it was I had done and that He forgave me.

In this small group setting I was able to address a lot of other sins I was struggling with openly and honestly. Joining this group was one of those life-changing experiences and a growth step for me in my relationship with Christ. It also prepared me for my teenage granddaughters, whom I was raising. I was able to talk with them about God, choices about sex and relationships, and what the word of God says about these things. I was able to show them how beautiful and amazing they are. I am proud to say that both of my granddaughters graduated from high school this year and earned scholarships to college.

I love the work this ministry is doing - changing lives and drawing people closer to Jesus."