Home of Hope Students

I grew up in a broken home. My mom was abusive and toxic and I was beaten every day. I lived in fear of what would happen next. I felt so alone, abandoned and rejected and could never understand what was going on. My addiction began around age eighteen smoking weed and drinking alcohol. I have cerebral palsy and so it helped with the pain.  It made me forget the pain of what I was going through both mentally and physically. It made me feel numb. What brought me to Teen challenge was the fact that I wanted something different than what I had been experiencing and I heard good things and knew they were centered on God and that’s what I wanted. I hope to grow to be a better and stronger person out of this with God and learn how to trust Him in the process.

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Life was good growing up until around the age of 9 when my parents got divorced and it felt like my entire world crumbled.  I felt broken and confused, but really I was in fear. After having my wisdom teeth pulled out at the age of 15, I learned that I liked the feeling that opioids gave me. My addiction didn’t fully take off until 23. That’s when I fell in love with the feeling, but I quickly learned I was always chasing that first high. I used drugs to numb all and any real emotion I ever had. I feel saddened to say this but drugs felt good to me and I don’t like feeling. Even if it was happiness I didn’t care, I just wanted to keep being numb. I came to Home of Hope to build and gain a relationship with God. I want to get off all of the drugs and nicotine, to have a real relationship with my children and hopefully restore broken bridges and relationships with my family. Also while being here I hope to better my attitude and do it all without any “crazy” needs.  

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers whatever is true, noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praise worthy thing about such things.”

I had a really good childhood, but I remember at a certain point telling myself that the only person that is going to make life good, is me. My addiction began at age 16 and I became more rebellious toward my mother. This led me down a dark path. I came to Teen Challenge Home of Hope because I had come to the conclusion that I needed to leave everyone and everything behind that I knew. With the support of a group of people, I flew out here as soon as I got the opportunity.  While I'm here at the Home of Hope, I hope to heal as a person and leave all the things that caused my addiction behind me. I really want to pursue ministry work with the homeless and less fortunate.  

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

My life was pretty normal. I was adopted into a pretty good family. It wasn’t until I moved out of their house, got pregnant, and then married, that my life started to go downhill. I got married at a young age and had to deal with mental and physical abuse and sometimes verbal abuse. I divorced him in 2020 and then met someone else and got hooked on drugs. My addiction started in 2020. I had just left the Home of Hope and graduated in 2019. I was lost and drowning in pain and hurt. I use drugs to cope with the pain that I had to go through when I got divorced and also when the other guy I was messing with would mentally and emotionally abuse me.  When I did drugs I would mentally and emotionally hurt my kids and I would hurt myself even worse. So this is my second time coming back to Teen Challenge, and God brought me back so I can get more healing and get any deep rooted issues pulled all the way up. He’s brought me back for a season of renewal.

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

Growing up for me was easy and hard at the same time. I lived with my father and grandmother most of my life. I began using drugs at sixteen years old to numb the pain from the abandonment and rejection from my mother and father.  I came to Teen Challenge from New Mexico to heal myself and learn how to be a better mother to my four children. While being here I hope to accomplish life skills, parenting, reconciliation with my family and children and learn how to build a relationship with God through sobriety.

Favorite Scripture: Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Looking back at my past and my upbringing I see a life that was full of holes. It was incomplete or just seemed empty. My addiction began the summer after eighth grade.  I’m sure I used drugs and alcohol to fill the void in my heart. Coming to Teen Challenge was a decision that I made for myself. It was after years of being a successful working woman, a mother and wife. That life didn’t mean much. I was willing to allow my addiction to take me and my family out. And it almost did, because I found no true fulfillment in this life. I hope to find who I am in God through Christ and that he fills every incomplete area and makes it whole again.

Favorite Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you. A mighty one, a savior who saves! He will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in silent satisfaction and in His love. He will be silent and make no mention of past sins, or even recall them. He will exult over you with singing.

My life growing up was very broken and abusive. I fought a lot and witnessed many men that my mom went through. There was a lot of illegal activity and neglect and my mom paid more attention to her men than to me. We moved a lot which was rough on me because I never really got to establish relationships. My addiction began when I was fourteen when I started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, that led to cocaine and meth. I believe I used drugs to forget the hurt and the things my family did to me and showed me. I wanted the pain to stop. I wanted to smile again and be happy. What brought me here to be honest was my lawyer. I was given a list of programs to go into to help with reunification with my daughter. What I hope to accomplish here at the Home of Hope is to gain life skills and to gain a firm foundation of God for my daughter and I to build on and get on my feet and stay on my feet. I want to be able to discern and stay away from situations that are not good for me or my daughter.  I hope to heal from past trauma as well as minister to places my daughter needs healing.

Favorite Scripture: Genesis 1:28 Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

Growing up my life was lonely and confusing. I didn’t know what was right or wrong and I was always getting into trouble. My addiction began at the age of 24 and my drugs of choice were meth and marijuana. I believe I used drugs to fill the void of emptiness and sadness that I had. What brought me to Teen Challenge was the love of Jesus Christ. I lost everything else I had, but not my faith in him! While I am here at the Home of Hope, I hope to let the Lord finish what he already started in me. I want to learn how to become a good missionary and build by his grace and mercy.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Life growing up was full of tragedy, heartbreak, loss, and division. The death of my brother fueled my mom’s addiction, which ultimately led to my parents’ divorce. I was angry for what had happened to my family. I felt like it was all my fault. My    addiction began when I was a teenager. I started smoking cigarettes, then weed, to pills, to cocaine; then meth, to morphine and oxycodone to fentanyl.  I began using initially to “fit in”, but the underlying reason was out of spite.  Eventually it became a form of escapism from all the heartbreak and disappointment through-out my entire life. My mom went through the Home of Hope and had her life turned 180° and she has remained successful. I’m facing losing my children, I’m in trouble with the law, and in short, was not being successful out on the streets. Addiction ruled my life! While in this program I hope to accomplish breaking this vicious cycle. I’m currently pregnant and want a better, non-toxic life for my kids and to turn my life around. I want to experience all of God and all of his promises for my life.  

Favorite Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

My life growing up was very scheduled. When I was three, my grandmother took custody of me due to my mom becoming a diabetic after having me. Very rarely did I have friends because I chose to block myself off due to abuse from my mom’s husband. I was always in trouble and became angry at the wrong people for the wrong things. My addiction began at the age of 18. I   believe I used drugs to run from my problems. Using, so I thought, helped me to focus on what I knew I had to do, which was work to make money, to take care of my child. The main reason I came here was to heal and to get closer and grow into God with my child. God made every way possible for me to get here and opened all doors. My heart has been trying to chase God, but I had family that kept me disconnected from that calling. My main worry was my child and how I could get us away from the situation I was in without having money for shelter, food, or transportation. I hope to accomplish a deeper understanding of God for I want to know and pursue him just as he did me. I hope to forgive some people dear to me while I’m here; as well as restore my family and be delivered.  

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Life growing up wasn’t terrible.  The only thing that really hurt me and pushed me into addiction was one of my mom’s abusive boyfriends. And the other reason I think that I started drinking was the fact that my dad wasn’t around. My addiction to alcohol began when I was twenty-one years old.  I believe it was because I was taken advantage of by someone I thought cared about me. And then another time someone close to me attacked me mentally. I let these things consume me. I came to Teen Challenge because I had decided enough was enough, that I needed and wanted something new. Through the program I hope to be more patient with life and to take better care of myself. I want to be happy and live a more confident life.

Favorite Scripture:

Life growing up was very quiet. I lived in a small town where most families kept to themselves. As a result, I too turned inward and detached myself from my emotions to create a facade of contentment and normalcy. I started using drugs and alcohol recreationally as a teen. In college I became dependent on alcohol to get through social situations and stress. During my early twenties, it turned into alcoholism. If I was awake I was drunk. I used alcohol to try to align my feelings with a mask I was showing everyone else. I thought if I drank anytime I was happy, sad, angry, anxious or grieving, I could glide through life without having to feel anything. Over time I fell into a dark place. My family was referred to Teen Challenge by some friends who had a son complete the program. HOH happened to be in the same town. While I am here, I hope to gain enough trust in the Lord that he will make my path clear, and to heal from my traumas along with the addictions. I want to meet the Lord and take the struggles and pressures off myself.

Favorite Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."

Growing up for me happened fast! Me being the eldest in our home, I was given the expectation to be a mother to three other siblings. My father was in and out of the prison system because he chose to father his drug habits instead of his children. My mother raised four children to the best of her abilities while having a crack-cocaine addiction. Her addiction ended when I was 10 years old. I began smoking weed in the second grade, then started drinking at age 11. At the age of 13, I had no supervision and was in and out of hotels with men. I ended up addicted to meth. By the time I was eight-teen years old, I began shooting heroin. Visiting the program 7 1/2 years ago with no children, I left a month in. Teen Challenge is a place of returning completion for me. I hope to accomplish self-love as well as self-worth. I would like to be closer to God and become a better mother.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them, a light has shined.

Life growing up was an adventure. I was everywhere with no schedule, no consistency, very confusing and on and off. I got into a lot of trouble because I did what I wanted all the time and didn’t care if I blew my family off. My addiction started when I was twelve years old with cutting, then to drugs and alcohol. I would do anything I could get a hold of. I believe I used drugs and alcohol to numb the loud noise and feelings. I didn’t want to feel anything; I didn’t even want to care anymore. My dad and my addiction brought me to Teen Challenge as well as the desire to have my sanity back. I was going crazy and couldn’t take it anymore. Something had to give and I was ready for that to happen. I hope to gain a sense of stability while in the program as well as coping skills. I don’t want to be so reliant on things or people. I hope to restore communication and my relationship with God again because I feel it has been very absent for a while.

Favorite Scripture: Colossians 3:15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

I was born into a family of 12 siblings where there was a lot of brokenness. Each one of us didn't know how to love one another or how to communicate. Oftentimes, I never felt heard or cared for. I thought there was something wrong with me. At age 15, I started smoking weed which led to drinking. I did this for 3 years. Then I eventually developed an addiction to opioids and cocaine. I started using it to distract from the hurt that started at age 6. People would always say I was over-dramatic. I was tired of being unhappy. I was introduced to Home of Hope by someone who had graduated from the program and I chose to come because God helped me realize the destructive path I was in. After several failed attempts to fix myself, I knew I needed help! I hope to gain full confidence in God and no longer rely on the things in this world. I'm praying for complete healing and restoration.

Favorite Scripture: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Growing up what I thought was normal, wasn’t. I was 10 when my parents divorced. My older sister and I never saw it coming. My parents never even fought, at least not in front of us. I have had an addiction one way or another since I was thirteen years old. It was caused by rejection and guilt.  I avoided my feelings and gave myself excuses for my behaviors. Now that I’ve gotten much older, I realized that my issues are still with me. I am from California and went to TC for the first time in 2010. I stopped using everything for six years but I was still broken. Since I have been at the Home of Hope I feel that it’s been different. I can feel that my heart is really changing. My spirit is being renewed daily. My strongholds are not defining me anymore. I’m done, yet I still have much work to do with Jesus Christ my Father God and the Holy Spirit. One day I hope that I am living in God’s plan for me. I hope that this program helps me to become free and to love myself the way my Father loves me.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 65:3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.

Growing up was…never dull. I began my regular hospital stays at the age of five. I was battling multiple illnesses. On top of this, my mother was terminally ill and in and out of marriages, resulting in mental, physical and sexual abuse. I had over used my meds as a toddler, not understanding, I was escaping and getting high. But at the age of 13, I found my mother’s pain meds and intentionally starting stealing them. I was given no hope for a future, so I figured I would try to alleviate pain and pass time as fast as possible. I came to the HOH the first time around in 2013 due to pills, pot, and alcohol. After 14 months, I graduated. I recently returned because my husband of thirteen years abandoned me and my two daughters with no warning. I started smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day and drinking myself to sleep.  I hope to re-establish Gods love, trust and gentleness with my children and also closeness and dependence on God, where I had allowed the world to slip in.

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Growing up my life was normal, but when I got older I felt abandonment from my own parents because they didn’t raise me. My addiction began after high school. I believe I started using drugs to numb the hurt and emotional pain I felt of not being good enough. I was brought to Teen Challenge of Arizona because after multiple failed attempts at rehabs I needed to try something more spiritual. While I’m in the program I hope to accomplish healing and staying sober.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 60:19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Life was lonely growing up. I dealt with a lot of abandonment issues and rejection. I hated feelings and was always looking to cover up and numb myself from dealing with the real issues at hand. My addiction began at age fourteen after I was molested and raped by a grown adult. I felt tainted and failed. I believe I used drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism when I didn’t have control in my life anymore. I believe Jesus brought me back to Teen Challenge. I felt defeated, like God had forsaken me because I went back to addiction. I didn’t want to live anymore. I wanted to be with Jesus in heaven and not feel abandoned anymore. I hope to accomplish restoration in my family. I want to be a healthy, positive, godly role model to my son. I want to be the stable person in his life that he can count on after God. I think it would be amazing to go on a mission’s trips or to use what Teen Challenge has taught me and apply it to a stable career within the ministry.

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:19 You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.