Hi. My name is Sandra.
I am here to share some of my story with you, and how Community of Hope NB was part of my journey. I was raised in a family where the use of violence, criminal behaviour, sexual abuse, and addictions, were a regular part of my family life, and because of this I ended up in foster care. I was on my own at 15 years old, and kept living the only way I knew how, the way I was brought up. The violence, sexual assaults, using drugs and alcohol, and criminal behaviours continued. I never learned what a healthy relationship was, or what healthy people looked like. I met my trafficker through my partner at the time, who was very abusive to me. My trafficker was a friend of the family. A good enough friend that he knew my children, he knew they were in foster care, he knew how much I wanted them back, and he knew what my relationship was like. He“rescued” me from the father of my children. He promised me he would get my kids back. I believed him. I trusted him. He was my“knight in shining armour”. I didn’t know at the time that he was grooming me. He did so much for me so when he needed my help how could I say no? He needed me to work for him, so I worked in a massage parlour for him, worked in strip clubs, and did sex work for him. I became completely dependent on him. I was isolated, alone, no friends or anyone to reach out to. I had no money. He made it very clear I was under his roof, and he was in control of everything. He manipulated me and I was brain washed. I would tell myself, “he’s a good guy. It isn’t so bad.” I was living in complete danger. But the choice to get help was so scary. Community of Hope NB helped me work through my trauma, and helped me heal from this trauma and find my own identity, my true identity. They helped me on a journey with Christ, to understand who he is, and how he SEES me, and loves ME.I was then able to love myself and forgive myself. I was able to leave my guilt and shame because he forgave me, because of his mercy, and because of his grace. I found a new identity in Jesus, it wasn’t the things I did, but what I did to survive. I always believed, I just didn’t know Him. I prayed for my children, and for God to protect them and keep them safe. He answered this prayer as they were able to stay together when they went into foster care. One time at church, I went up to receive prayer. A lady prayed with me and about my children. Later she turned out to be the Social Worker who placed my children. I was so pleased to know she was a Christian. It helped me trust her. I knew God would take care of my children. Looking back, I can see how God was protecting me all along in my journey. I have been in situations that would have put me in jail for life, but I believe God softened the hearts of the police officers and in the courts, so I am not in jail now. Community of Hope NB helped me to see where God has been moving in my life. He had always been knocking on my door, I just had to open the door. God delivered me from my addictions, and he gave me a forever family with Community of Hope. God opened doors for Community of Hope NB to get me into the next stage of support that I needed, and they were able to accompany me here, and support me in this transition. God’s promises now give me:
– Comfort and Protection (Psalm 23)
– Trust and Hope (Malachi 4:6)
– Guidance and Surrender (Psalm 119:105) (Proverbs 3:5-6)
– Confidence (Proverbs 31:25)
God has used Community of Hope NB as His hands and feet, giving me a new life. Without his hands and feet (Community of Hope NB) I would have never been able to do this alone.
I am here to share some of my story with you, and how Community of Hope NB was part of my journey. I was raised in a family where the use of violence, criminal behaviour, sexual abuse, and addictions, were a regular part of my family life, and because of this I ended up in foster care. I was on my own at 15 years old, and kept living the only way I knew how, the way I was brought up. The violence, sexual assaults, using drugs and alcohol, and criminal behaviours continued. I never learned what a healthy relationship was, or what healthy people looked like. I met my trafficker through my partner at the time, who was very abusive to me. My trafficker was a friend of the family. A good enough friend that he knew my children, he knew they were in foster care, he knew how much I wanted them back, and he knew what my relationship was like. He“rescued” me from the father of my children. He promised me he would get my kids back. I believed him. I trusted him. He was my“knight in shining armour”. I didn’t know at the time that he was grooming me. He did so much for me so when he needed my help how could I say no? He needed me to work for him, so I worked in a massage parlour for him, worked in strip clubs, and did sex work for him. I became completely dependent on him. I was isolated, alone, no friends or anyone to reach out to. I had no money. He made it very clear I was under his roof, and he was in control of everything. He manipulated me and I was brain washed. I would tell myself, “he’s a good guy. It isn’t so bad.” I was living in complete danger. But the choice to get help was so scary. Community of Hope NB helped me work through my trauma, and helped me heal from this trauma and find my own identity, my true identity. They helped me on a journey with Christ, to understand who he is, and how he SEES me, and loves ME.I was then able to love myself and forgive myself. I was able to leave my guilt and shame because he forgave me, because of his mercy, and because of his grace. I found a new identity in Jesus, it wasn’t the things I did, but what I did to survive. I always believed, I just didn’t know Him. I prayed for my children, and for God to protect them and keep them safe. He answered this prayer as they were able to stay together when they went into foster care. One time at church, I went up to receive prayer. A lady prayed with me and about my children. Later she turned out to be the Social Worker who placed my children. I was so pleased to know she was a Christian. It helped me trust her. I knew God would take care of my children. Looking back, I can see how God was protecting me all along in my journey. I have been in situations that would have put me in jail for life, but I believe God softened the hearts of the police officers and in the courts, so I am not in jail now. Community of Hope NB helped me to see where God has been moving in my life. He had always been knocking on my door, I just had to open the door. God delivered me from my addictions, and he gave me a forever family with Community of Hope. God opened doors for Community of Hope NB to get me into the next stage of support that I needed, and they were able to accompany me here, and support me in this transition. God’s promises now give me:
– Comfort and Protection (Psalm 23)
– Trust and Hope (Malachi 4:6)
– Guidance and Surrender (Psalm 119:105) (Proverbs 3:5-6)
– Confidence (Proverbs 31:25)
God has used Community of Hope NB as His hands and feet, giving me a new life. Without his hands and feet (Community of Hope NB) I would have never been able to do this alone.