Home of Hope Students

From what I can remember, growing up I had a pretty normal childhood. I grew up in a pretty big family and my parents were good examples of the type of love and marriage I wanted for myself. I started drinking and doing drugs socially in middle school and I didn’t see it as a big problem at the time. After I had my son in 2015, I started smoking heroin and meth with my boyfriend. After a while our addictions ended up tearing our relationship apart. In October of 2023 I was arrested and I came to realize that I could no longer out run the Lord. He has been calling me to Him for years now and at first, I thought that I had my life under control but I was clearly mistaken. I’m hoping to complete this program and by doing so I would like to build my relationship back up with my family and son.

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 1:19 For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

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 growing up was dark until the age of nine. My dad battled addiction, and my mom worked a lot to support four children. At nine, my dad went to the Teen Challenge Phoenix Men’s Center, when his life changed so did all of ours. My parents went full force into ministry, it was beautiful. My addiction started at seventeen with marijuana. By the time I was twenty-two, I became addicted to meth and at age twenty-eight when I started using fentanyl, I became hopeless. I used drugs in the beginning because I liked the way they made me feel, but eventually I lost everything I loved and began using drugs to numb my guilt and shame. I came to Teen Challenge so that I could have life with purpose in Christ. I grew up in a Teen Challenge family and I know God works here. I told God that if he would open the door, I’ll be obedient, and he did. While here I hope to learn how to be a disciple for the kingdom of God. I want to be able to be used by God. AMEN!

Favorite Scripture: John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

My life growing up was chaotic and full of abuse. I never felt safe by my loved ones, friends and family. The addiction started when I was 17 with a bunch of boys and my child’s father. I used drugs to prove to my parents what an addict looked like when I was a teenager. But as an adult, I used drugs to please my child’s father. Further down the road I used drugs and alcohol to get motivated to do anything and deal with my emotions and abuse I went through as a child. I mainly used drugs and alcohol to help me get through the abusive relationship with my child’s father. I got tired of being part of an abusive relationship cycle and I wanted to fully embrace gentle parenting. I realized I was losing touch with myself and my daughter. I’ve never felt more ready to be here and ready to feel safe and trust God again. I hope to accomplish an unbreakable relationship with Jesus Christ and my daughter! I hope to accomplish gentle parenting fully and learn to deal with my emotions and mental health. I also hope to accomplish knowing what healthy relationships look like with friends’ parents and intimate relationships through Jesus Christ!  

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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 good childhood with loving parents and my little sister. As I got older, I strayed from God and was chasing chaos. When I was 17, I was introduced to heroin after finding out that my mom was diagnosed with cancer. That’s when I became a full-blown I.V. user. I was chasing a life of destruction and I became distracted. I was using drugs to mask my hurt and shame. I went through Teen Challenge in 2014 so when I was ready to change, I knew I wanted to come back. I hope to grow closer to God and strengthen my faith. I also want to forgive myself and others and to learn discipline.

Favorite Scripture: I Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

My childhood was pretty fun. I was involved in my church and I was able to be a kid and do things such as four wheeling, fishing, and camping. I was raised up in a Christian household and I had a good loving relationship with both of my parents. I got pregnant in high school and I ended up losing contact with my daughter’s father. That’s when everything in my life shifted. I soon fell into postpartum depression and during that time I started experimenting with hallucinogens and alcohol. Using drugs and alcohol helped me when I needed to interact with individuals or be in large crowds. By being here at the Home of Hope I want to learn how to be a mother again to my daughter and how I can become a functioning member of society again. 

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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.

Overall growing up, I had a good childhood. I had loving, God fearing parents. They weren’t perfect (like any of us) but they raised me with the love of Jesus and God in their hearts. My addiction began at age 26. I started drinking but only for a few months and wanted to get help before it got bad. I started drinking when the pressures of life hit and I started to feel like God wasn’t enough. But I ended up straying further away from Him. What brought me to Teen Challenge was my Uncle. He once was a student in the program and has graduated and is now a staff member at the Men’s Center. I had talked to him about some struggles and he informed me about Teen Challenge and what the program had done for him and I was interested. I wanted somewhere that could grow and challenge my faith in God. The things I hope to accomplish while in the program are learning how to be whole, and to get healing and deliverance.

Favorite Scripture: Mark 8:36-37 “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

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.

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.

My life growing up was very chaotic and dysfunctional. My dad was never around and when he was he and my mom were constantly fighting. Abuse was a regular thing at home. My mom was too consumed in her addiction to pay attention to me and my siblings. My addiction began due to lack of supervision. I fell into the crowd. My drug use started at 12 with weed. By age 14 I was smoking meth and drinking every weekend. At first I started using because everyone around me used and it was fun. When things were going wrong, I started using drugs as a way to escape from the world. Drugs helped me forget all the bad feelings. Once I came down everything was so hard to deal with, so I just wanted to stay high. I came to Teen Challenge because I was tired of being broken. I didn’t want my childhood trauma affecting me as a parent or my relationship with my son. I was ready to surrender to God and allow his will to be done in my life. While here I hope to let go of everything and allow the Lord to gain control. I want to establish a firm foundation in Him.

Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

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:

Growing up my family and I went to church and church gatherings. I have five brothers and sisters and my parents divorced when I was 5 years old. My dad was abusive and I struggled with depression and anxiety. I used meth for the first time when I was 18 and the addiction became worse when I turned 30. I’ve always struggled with abusive and unhealthy relationships and at the time I believed that drugs helped me with the pain, depression, anxiety, weight loss and fatigue.. I came to the Home of Hope because of domestic violence and depression. I also want to deal with the root cause in order to receive the healing I need as well as support and structure.

Favorite Scripture: Psalms 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

I grew up in a very nurtured environment and I had a loving family. My addiction began when my husband passed away. I turned to alcohol because I wanted to numb the pain of his death. I started to drink here and there after work and then it started to get out of control. What brought me to the Home of Hope was the fact that my children and I knew that it was time for a change. I knew that I didn’t want to live the rest of my life like I have been. I hope to regain my health and to get my life back on track. I also hope to help others who are struggling like me through the church that I attend. 

Favorite Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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.

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 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.

I grew up with both my adoptive parents and three other siblings.  They raised me very controlling and strict but still loving because they tried to protect me from a life of disobedience. I feel like I was placed on a pedestal to be as “godly” and “perfect” as them.  It seemed my rebellious heart led them to have negative thoughts and feelings – questioning who they adopted. I felt like I was always a disappointment to them and their words and actions that they projected towards me hurt. I blamed and placed fault on myself and became distant from my family. I started abusing alcohol and marijuana in high school then I got into meth and fentanyl at 19 and now I’m 23. I used drugs because I didn’t want to feel, think, or be present and just wanted to escape reality. My addiction quickly caught up with me and I was soon in trouble with the law and then homeless. I came to the Home of Hope because I felt that short term treatments didn’t work well. I would like to make probation early and have a better outlook on life and not dread living. I also want to find out why I’m here and what my purpose is.

Favorite Scripture: John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

I grew up in a home that tried their hardest to make it a good one. I loved all the sporting events for little leagues and family picnics. I grew up with a hard working step dad and mother, but I didn’t know my biological father. My addiction began wanting people’s love and approval around 5 and I am still learning to come out of it. Growing up not having a memory of my own father left a hole in my heart. My belief of not getting the acceptance needed left me searching. I used approval from others and people pleasing as a guide to feeling love and accepted from people in my life, it left me feeling mad at myself because I couldn’t seem to get out of the cycle. I came here with my 3 kids to get out of a dysfunctional relationship. I am tired of fighting to be accepted and validated. I want to be able to show my kids what a healthy person with a relationship with Christ looks like and gain some healing and a stronger relationship with God.

Favorite Scripture: James 1:19-20 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

I feel like I never got the chance to have a childhood. Things happened that made me grow up quickly. Having no control over my life or the things that happened to me created an issue with control.  I used drugs here and there but I was not a full blown addict until after I graduated high school. I was in love with a boy, moved to Colorado for him. When the relationship came to an end, I moved back home. I was heartbroken. All I wanted to do was numb the pain. Something that was an every once in a while thing with friends quickly turned into an everyday thing by the age of 19.  I started out abusing prescription painkillers. When I couldn’t find pills, I upgraded to Heroine. Kicked the Heroine and picked up Meth. Trading one addiction for another.  I had been seeking God on my own.  I would pray that He would lead me to someone who would be able to answer my questions. I was sick of my own crap. Sick of the lifestyle I was living. I feel that God heard my prayers and lead me to the Home of Hope. My hope with this program is to take the time and the space to build a better me. To build healthy habits and routines. To re-write my unhealthy programming so that I can fully participate in my own life and what God is building for my future. 

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 35:4 “Say to the faint-hearted: ‘Be strong: do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”