Reborn in Christ as the Mother She Longed to Be

Desireay was raised by a mom who was physically abusive . . . and a stepdad who gave her a taste of alcohol when she was only 4. That pattern of destructive behavior followed Desireay into her own adult life. All of her children have different fathers who aren't involved in their lives. "I was the parent, but living a life of the streets," she admits with regret. "I was a thug . . . a street hustler." Drinking heavily, smoking pot, selling drugs . . . giving away her body and soul.

After sending her kids to live with a relative, Desireay tried to take her own life. Fortunately, by God's hand, a friend intervened and helped her get help. After several false starts at other facilities, she and the children came to Hope Family Center.

"Hope Family Center takes care of all our basic necessities," she explains. "Above all else, they focus on our spiritual needs." Desireay says she knew immediately that it was a place where she and the children could grow. "I grew up in a home that had no affection. Now I can say ‘I love you' and hug and kiss my kids. I can raise them with Christ in the center of their lives."

Desireay says she now wants to be a testimony to other women who have been in her predicament and tell them, "If you don't believe in Jesus, look at me, He changed my heart and my life!

"God is here. He is alive and He can do anything! He's been waiting patiently for me to come home. I was searching for fathers in earthly men, men who were no good for me. But my Heavenly father has always been there, waiting for me. I didn't need to do all that searching. I wouldn't trade His love for anything."