Michelle
3 Flowers
Purpose. I have a purpose, and no one can change or take away what God has planned for me. I might have been broken down, beaten, wounded but that doesn’t define me. Only God can judge me. I may have faced things, but I know that things happen for a reason… for a purpose that only God knows. God only gives us what we can handle. I might not know my purpose yet but ONE thing I do know is God has a plan for me. God is going to have great things planned for me and He’s going to be with me through my journey while I change the world… Create a difference, to remind those who have broken down that they are loved, that they’re cared for. A constant reminder that THEY ARE a child of God and that CANNOT be taken away from them.
Elephants
One day at Cherish House we did an elephant project with the mentors and while doing this we read an article. From the article, we learned that female elephants take care of each other when in need of help. That they don’t leave each other’s sides when in need. Cherish House and Reclaim13 is just like that, a sisterhood. When you come into this community you’re in it forever. I believe it 100%; when I’m having a rough day there’s always someone I can go to and talk to. I don’t ever feel like I’ll be left alone. Even the girls in the house have become my new sisters and I know they’ll always be.
Umbrella with Waterfall Colors
This painting symbolizes many things to me, it shows how many tears I cried at night for help and the tears I cried for joy when being found. When being trafficked it’s hard to believe that God is there… But when you witness a miracle you realize that HE WAS THERE. That He never left your side. I may have not noticed that God was there but when I did He would cry. Not only was I hurting, He was too hurting like me because His child was being taken advantage of. This umbrella represents God, how He sheltered and lifted me when I felt like breaking down and giving up. He stood by my side and gave me hope. I couldn’t have made it through what I did without God. He is my savior, my father, and I’m thankful for Him.
Beauty with flowers
Us girls who were trafficked had messy lives and unstableness, but behind that mess, there was always beauty. Both inside and out. That’s something we should never forget; we’re beautiful in God’s eyes no matter what.