A letter from a former guest
My name is Brenda Mitchell. Two times in 1986 and 1987 my three small children and I took refuge at the Baptist Women's Shelter, now DaySpring Villa. My husband had been violent, and eventually we had to flee for our lives. I left on foot, leaving our home 40 miles outside of Tulsa in the countryside. I carried a baby and a two year old, while my 5 year old walked beside us. I had only $4 in laundry quarters in my pocket. My two little ones didn't even have shoes. A kind neighbor took us to the Shelter. They helped us to get on our feet, and transitioned us into government housing. My counselor there was Evelyn, Lord bless her. That was many years ago.
But, my, what God has done with my life since then! It hasn't been easy sailing, but… My children are all grown. I worked fulltime and went back to school. I have been an RN now for 8 years, and I am licensed in six states. I work as a travel nurse, taking contracts all over the country, making good money. I own two small houses in Oklahoma; one is a rental house and the other I use for assisting a mentally ill family member. I do medical missions work in southern Mexico, so that isolated people can hear the gospel. I minister in a low-income area. I have assisted in occasions of domestic abuse. I have provided free medical care. I assist to provide food to the down-and-out. I am currently near West Palm Beach, Florida, getting ready to get married to a wonderful, kind-hearted man who loves to give and serve others and God like I do. I thought you'd appreciate an invitation to the wedding from me, one of your "success stories." All glory to God for what He has done! God has made all these changes in my life.
And for those of you just beginning the road to recovery from domestic abuse or homelessness – TAKE HEART! God is big enough for any situation. Trust Him. Get close to Jesus and the Bible. Work hard. You can make it!
Thank you for your help!
Brenda Mitchell
Erica
For 13 years Erica stayed with her alcoholic abuser, enduring his fits of rage that regularly culminated in beatings so severe she couldn't leave the house. By now, she had given birth to two children who watched as their father kicked, slapped and punched their mother, and sometimes even put a gun to her head.
The day Erica made the decision to leave her abuser, she was terrified. She set off with her two children where they found themselves at The Day Center for the Homeless. There, she heard about DaySpring Villa.
Today, Erica is 44 years old and has rediscovered the meaning of unconditional love. She and her children have been baptized. Erica plans to enroll in college in January. She is learning how to drive, and her children are thriving.
Summer
At age 17, Summer met her future husband in a chance encounter that would write a harrowing 14-year chapter of her life filled with violence, rejection and abandonment. Summer's husband was an angry alcoholic who couldn't keep a job and took out his frustrations on her almost daily. In 2007, he simply announced that he had met someone else and left her. With no job and no family to turn to, Summer came to DaySpring Villa.
In the three months she stayed with us, Summer set several practical goals for herself. She found work, bought a car, and began the long journey toward healing.
Today, Summer is part of DaySpring Villa's Non-Residential Program, which offers ongoing emotional and spiritual aftercare to guests who've regained their independence.
Amy
Shy and soft spoken, Amy's quiet demeanor belies the extraordinary physical and emotional abuse she suffered for 18 years at the hands of her husband. Amy and her daughters arrived at DaySpring Villa in 2007 with little more than the clothes on their back and $4 in change. They were frightened, confused, and full of uncertainty but determined to reclaim their lives.
For eight months, Amy and her daughters worked hard to start over. With help from DaySpring Villa, Amy has finally started living. She now has a job and attends school to further her education. She also found a new home of her own.
Emily
Emily traveled to Tulsa from Missouri after graduating high school. She looked forward to catching up with her sister who lived here and making some extra money before attending college in the fall. Emily had recently broken up with her boyfriend and while she wasn't looking for someone new, someone new happened along. The new man in Emily's life soon invited her to move in with him – a great idea, he told her, that would help Emily financially. But things quickly unraveled between Emily and her new boyfriend. He disappeared frequently, taking her car and her cell phone, and leaving her alone for days at a time.
When Emily discovered she was pregnant, her boyfriend demanded she have an abortion. But Emily refused. In a fit of rage, Emily's boyfriend pushed her down a flight of stairs and beat her badly. She escaped with little more than a trash bag full of clothes and her car. A friend of Emily's told her about DaySpring Villa and after reading this website, Emily made the call.
Relief, she says, was instant the minute she arrived. During Emily's stay, DaySpring Villa's case workers helped her set a series of practical goals that Emily crossed off her list one by one. She immediately found a job and set her sights on achieving the advanced education she'd always wanted. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in December 2009 and soon after transitioned into a home of her own. DaySpring Villa, she says, gave her a second chance to work toward the life she'd envisioned.
Susie
After Susie's abusive husband discovered her and their two children at another shelter, they were secretly moved to DaySpring Villa in the middle of the night. What self-esteem Susie had left was extremely low. Her children refused to mind her and everyone yelled at each other, confused and frightened.
During Susie's stay at DaySpring Villa, we helped her connect with local resources to achieve practical goals that would lead her in a positive, new direction. These resources included a local church where Susie began building a healthy support system; Legal Aid to assist her with her divorce; counseling services for both her and her children; and job skills training classes. The parenting group at DaySpring Villa introduced Susie to proven techniques for disciplining her children without yelling. Our children's coordinator also helped Susie develop a positive reinforcement plan to improve her children's behavior.
When Susie left DaySpring Villa, she was literally a new person inside and out. Through her accomplishments, Susie emerged transformed. Stronger and independent, Susie had taken control of her life and her children.
Nancy
Through a series of unforeseeable events, Nancy found herself living in her car. With only a part-time job, she simply couldn't afford rent, utilities and food. At DaySpring Villa, we helped Nancy get back on her feet by providing her with clothes, food and a safe place to live. We also helped her get her car fixed, update her resume and get prescription glasses. Nancy worked hard to land a full-time job and saved her money to get a place of her own. We're happy to report Nancy is still working and living independently.
Regina
A retired widow, Regina was eager for a fresh start. Although she had no family or friends in Tulsa, she decided to relocate here and bought a bus ticket for the trip. On the ride, she broke her back. Arriving at the Tulsa bus station with nowhere to go and no one to help her, a stranger directed her to DaySpring Villa.
Regina had physical, emotional and financial needs. During her stay, DaySpring Villa connected her with the numerous resources she needed to begin the healing process from all sides. We helped her access medical resources for back surgery, counseling services to deal with her grief, vocational rehabilitation and disability income. We also helped her locate a place to live and, through donations, provided necessary furnishings to make her home livable.
Today, Regina has found a new lease on life and strives to pass on the help she has been given.
Terri
When Terri arrived at DaySpring Villa, she brought with her four children and nothing else. Their immediate needs were apparent: food, clothing and a safe place to live. But Terri needed more than the basics. She needed a plan and resources to provide for her children independently.
To accomplish her goals, DaySpring Villa encouraged Terri to apply for housing help and take courses to improve her job skills. She also worked on her parenting skills in group sessions. Not long after, Terri and her children moved into their newly rented home with a household of goods donated to DaySpring Villa. As a continuing source of help, we also provided Terri's children with Christmas gifts the first year on her own.
Terri still keeps in contact with us and we continue to support her goals for independence.