Erica
Garrison, NY
2008
Skin and bones, sick and destitute.
Erica will never forget how far she plunged into a life of addiction and dangerous relationships.
“I was 94 pounds and in extreme denial,” she shares.
Even though she managed to work as an English teacher for many years, Erica continued to drink in excess, often blacking out and losing track of days. Eventually, she was let go from her job for being high on school property.
That’s when her family staged an intervention.
She had two options: get help from a recovery facility or lose all contact with her family.
God used the open door to lead Erica to Hoving Home.
“The heart transformation started around the third month. The denial scales came off my eyes, and I started to get honest about what I was going through,” Erica shares.
After she started to open up to God, Erica didn’t have withdrawal symptoms or detox issues. She could see the pain, fear, and insecurity that drove her toward substance abuse.
“It was miraculous,” she expresses.
“When I completed the program, I decided to accept an offer to work at Hoving Home as a full-time staff member.”
That first offer has turned into 15 years of ministry!
Erica is thriving and sharing what she’s learned with other women. She shares …
“I get to use all my skills, all of my education background, and my life experiences to pour into our curriculum and help others go where I’ve been and walk where I’ve walked and learn that the Lord has a plan for their lives. It’s amazing!”
Walking with God has ultimately given Erica new freedom.
For years, she carried the shame and guilt of her past. It took a long time to remove, but now, that shame is gone. As the popular Christian song goes, “The chains are gone; I’ve been set free; my God, my Savior, has ransomed me.”
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