Francine
Samaritan Women Testimony
Hello,
my name is Francine. I was born in San Jose, California on June 2, 1980. I
came from no home, or love. My mom was a heroin addict, and my father was
shot and killed when I was 2 years old. I am one of eight children in my
family and, yes, I am the youngest.
Many times my mom would leave us at home alone without food or money. My
older sister was 15 at the time and knew that my mom would never change.
Therefore, she dropped out of school and became our mother. I remember this
one specific time when we had no food, and my sister did not know what to do
anymore, so she made a call to police. They ended up coming over and picking
all of us up and taking us down to a shelter. My two sisters and my brother
were able to stay there because there were old enough, but because I was
only three years old, I had to be put into a foster home. I have been in
foster homes from age 3 to 18 at which time I released from the court
systems.
During the time I was in the foster homes, I was physically, emotionally,
and sexually abused. I started using drugs at the age of 12, and I dropped
out of school and ran away to my sisters who introduced the drugs to me. I
was beat and tormented; I was a quiet child with no hope. I knew that I was
a problem child and no one wanted me.
After I was eighteen years old, I graduated from high school, which I was
the first to graduate in my family. Soon after, I met a man, the father of
my son, and I just knew for sure that he was the true love that I had been
looking for. After being with him for about 5 years, I was again physically
and emotionally abused. This lifestyle became normal living for me.
People would always ask me, “Why do you stay with him when he beats you?”
My reply was, “It’s not a big deal”, even though I was really miserable.
After some time, I began to frequent the jail, as an inmate on domestic
violence charges. Suddenly I became the person who was the abuser, and I
let out all my anger toward hurting him. I knew in my heart that if I didn’t
leave I would probably kill him. I also realized that there must have been
something better out there than this.
I soon became homeless and began abusing drugs, and that was my lifestyle
for about 3 years. I had tried going back to school but there was always
something to disrupt me. I was a bomb ready to explode.
My friend Carmen told me about Samaritan Women and that they might be able
to help me. I was a very stubborn person and very prideful, but I needed
help. I knew that much in my heart. I decided to go with Carmen to
Samaritan Women. As I was there, I noticed that people were very loving and
caring. It was at this time that I made the decision to give my life to the
Lord. The next day, I began my stay at the TLC Home, and I have been here
almost one year.
This has been the best decision I have ever made besides turning my life to
God. I have regular visits with my three old son, Taylor. I am now
attending Heald College for my Degree in Medical Assistant, and just this
past December made the Dean’s list with straight A’s in all my classes. God
is good, and He turns everything around that is negative and makes it
positive. I always knew that there was something better out there than the
life that I lived. There was, and His name is Jesus. I have been a
Christian for about a year now and was baptized at EV Free Evangelical
Church in July of 2003.
One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 43:2,4 “When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will
not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze…Since you are precious and honored in my
sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and
people in exchange for your life.” I know that God has always loved
me. Even before He created all the heavens and the earth, He loved me. Now
He has redeemed me, and He tells me that I am precious in His sight. I
never had parents, but I always had a Father. I was in the pits of hell, but
I was put in a place of honor, and breathe the very breath of God that gives
me life.
Samaritan
Women
