“In the moments when I feel completely alone, God brings the right people to let me know I’m loved.”
For 19 years, Angela endured a marriage of control, manipulation and abuse, but two years ago, she regained her voice and the strength to take a stand for herself and her children. This strength came from heartfelt prayers and faith in the God who has sustained her through every twist and turn.
“I said, ‘Lord, I’m not going to put you in a box. I will not limit you, and I will listen to your voice,’” Angela shared.
Along with her children, Angela fled her home and spent a few months in a domestic violence shelter. Now she’s facing a lengthy legal process as she finalizes her divorce and fights to maintain custody of her children.
Earlier this year, a judge ordered that she and the children could take possession of the home from her ex-spouse. But when Angela and her children moved back in, their home didn’t look like it had when they left.
“When I got in the house, it was destroyed,” Angela explained.
With her primary bathroom tub ripped out and gaping holes in the bathroom walls and floor, the best way for Angela to describe it is that it looks “as if it’s under construction.”
In her children’s bathroom, the walls and floor are intact, but the broken shower handle and moldy cabinets are lingering issues her spouse had refused to fix while living in the home.
In addition to other cosmetic and safety concerns, Angela noticed needed repairs for her water heater and the home’s HVAC system.
With her family living off credit cards and her own small paycheck, Angela’s options for repairs were limited until her legal advocate from the domestic violence shelter paid her a visit.
“She came to the house one day with a couple of people from her church. They checked the house out and asked me about the things that are broken,” she explained.
When Angela’s legal advocate saw the damage, she referred Angela to Home Repairs Ministries.
Home Repairs Project Manager Kyle and Project Coordinator Ashley visited in early November for an inspection. While they knew they couldn’t tackle every repair immediately, they enlisted help from Anthony, one of Home Repairs’ skilled volunteers.
“Anthony jumped in a couple of weeks later, and it was such a blessing that in the cold weather, he was able to fix the heater and replace some of the parts. He spent so much time fixing that heater, and I’m just so grateful. I don’t know how I can ever repay him for his time and kindness,” Angela said.
“The day Anthony came, I was crying because I was having such a bad day. When he left, I was still crying, but crying tears of joy from having support from a person not related to me or even a friend.”
Several repairs are still in progress, but Angela is incredibly grateful to Kyle and Anthony for making sure she and her children can stay warm in the winter months.
“I have been completely isolated from my community that doesn’t understand the level of abuse that I went through,” she explained.
“Yet here jumps in strangers, donors, the domestic violence shelter and [Home Repairs Ministries], and they’re just showing me so much love and care and compassion. They don’t just say, ‘We’re going to pray for you.’ They jump in and help out.”
It’s because of donors and volunteers like Anthony that Home Repairs can enter a suffering woman’s home and share a little bit of joy in her dark season.
“I’m experiencing true brothers and sisters in Christ,” Angela shared.
“When I felt like I was crumbling, God brought them into my life. He sent Kyle and Anthony to do this favor for me free of charge. It made me feel the Lord is saying, ‘You’re not alone.’”
Every gift to Home Repairs Ministries reminds homeowners, including Angela, that they are not alone, no matter their circumstances. Without your help, we won’t have the funds for the rest of Angela’s repairs. Will you be the hands and feet of Jesus and ”adopt” Angela this season?
*Name has been changed for privacy.