Chenetta

Rebuild and Restore

I began having children at the age of nineteen. By the time I was twenty-one, I had three kids and lived in the “projects,” where they were exposed to constant drug dealing and violence. At age twenty-four, my kids and I relocated to Coffeyville, Kansas, with one of their fathers. Shortly thereafter, I began suffering severe physical, mental, and emotional abuse by his hands. I thought giving him another son would satisfy his needs, but that still wasn’t enough. After giving birth to my son, RJ, the abuse escalated and I began coping with alcohol.

I used substances to numb the pain since I knew I still had my responsibilities. Following a nearly fatal incident, my kids and I packed up and with the help of a local safe house, we made it safely back to Huntsville. Despite our separation, I continued using and drinking to have peace of mind from all of the trauma. All the while, I continued taking care of everybody and everything, but I still needed self-satisfaction and at the moment, for me, that came in a bottle.

In 2017, with a turn of events, I lost everything, including my kids. Life spiraled out of control so fast! I ended up homeless and came to the Mission, which I now see as divine intervention, but wasn’t ready to turn my life over completely to God.

Three years later I realized the only real way out is by letting God lead and I follow. I joined their life recovery program in February 2020 and the Holy Spirit said loud and clear… “Do you love alcohol more than you love your children?” I answered “No!” From that point forward, the restoration process began! At first I thought I was losing my kids, but it turns out, God was working it out in my favor! I’ve been reconnected with my family and children. God revealed that it was His intention all along to rebuild and restore our relationship – it just took me to submit to the Spirit’s pressings! God specializes in impossible things!

– Chenetta