My name is Thom. I’m 31 years old. I’m the oldest child in my family. I have 2 brothers and one sister. My daughter is 9 years old. I separated from my husband after I gave birth to my daughter. My ex-husband was addicted to gambling, alcohol, drugs, and women. He used to hurt me physically, but the worst thing was that he didn’t love my daughter. I love my family. As the first child in my family, I acted as the leader for my family. I worked and sent money to my parents. My life before I knew God was hard. My family was poor and my parents moved often since they were laborers for constructions projects. As a result, I moved from school to school.
There were times when I needed to play the part of a parent, as my parents left me alone with my siblings so they could work. They had a lot of debts. After I separated from my husband, my mom begged me to work in a bar in order to make good money. I did not want to go, but finally surrendered after the third time she asked. Bar work made me adjust my lifestyle in order to survive. Life was hard in the bar. I had to fight in order to get customers. Once I had a customer, I needed to drink and sleep with them in order to make money. Sometimes I felt like a vegetable or a fish in the market. My life was worthless and was even darker when I would meet with bad customers. During the day, I was ashamed that people knew that I was a night lady. I didn’t want to do this job; but my mom asked me to pay off the family debts. In my mom’s house we didn’t have electricity or a bathroom.
Finally, I met Kay and Mike, who are servants of God, and they asked me to leave bar work. Over a long period of time, they continued to ask me to quit, but I resisted. Then one day I decided to stop working in the bar. I called Kay and got a new job immediately – a job that gave me value. I love this job very much! I have learned so much and I have come to know Jesus. God restored value in my life. I once thought my body was dirty, but now I see the beauty of God’s creation. I am made in God’s image. I’m not shy; I have dignity from God. God lifted me up from a bad situation into a good one. I am now on the staff of a safe house that helps rescue women who work in the bar. I buy supplies. I teach people to make beautiful jewelry. I have good friends here, and I learn about life skills. I’m a leader. I’m happy to study God’s story.
I want to be a full-time servant of God. I want to bring many people to know God. I want to see people have a good job like me, so they don’t have to sell themselves. I want women to see and know the value of themselves, so they will not fall into the traps of this world. I want to see men who will give honor to women. I want to see children who will not be slaves of money. I was the first Christian in my family, but now my 2 brothers, sister, daughter, sister-in-law, and my parents are all now Christian. Thank you, God!
Samaritan Creations is a ministry run by the Step to a New Life Foundation.
Finally, I met Kay and Mike, who are servants of God, and they asked me to leave bar work. Over a long period of time, they continued to ask me to quit, but I resisted. Then one day I decided to stop working in the bar. I called Kay and got a new job immediately – a job that gave me value. I love this job very much! I have learned so much and I have come to know Jesus. God restored value in my life. I once thought my body was dirty, but now I see the beauty of God’s creation. I am made in God’s image. I’m not shy; I have dignity from God. God lifted me up from a bad situation into a good one. I am now on the staff of a safe house that helps rescue women who work in the bar. I buy supplies. I teach people to make beautiful jewelry. I have good friends here, and I learn about life skills. I’m a leader. I’m happy to study God’s story.
I want to be a full-time servant of God. I want to bring many people to know God. I want to see people have a good job like me, so they don’t have to sell themselves. I want women to see and know the value of themselves, so they will not fall into the traps of this world. I want to see men who will give honor to women. I want to see children who will not be slaves of money. I was the first Christian in my family, but now my 2 brothers, sister, daughter, sister-in-law, and my parents are all now Christian. Thank you, God!
Samaritan Creations is a ministry run by the Step to a New Life Foundation.
