“I’ve rarely felt safe in my life. Raised in a situation of domestic servitude with abuse heaped on me daily, I learned how to be wary of people. Kind of like a stray cat. For years I struggled with opening my heart and my soul up to other people, because I thought they’d hurt me. Then I found myself a runaway, left with nothing to rely on but survival sex. Literally for snacks and cigarettes and Pepsi. Later I met up with a “friend,” who proceeded to traffic me. My walls grew higher and my heart grew a little cold. Not too cold, you know, because I knew God was watching. I knew I still had to honor other’s humanity, and I did. Life handed me two small boys to raise as a single mother, and bad man after bad man. I was nearly murdered by my ex-husband, who throat punched me as hard as he could. Thankfully, I did not die. We experienced homelessness, poverty and more abuse. It was like I couldn’t get a break. I did pray to God, especially when I was drowning in tears and screaming “Why? Why are you doing this to me?” Lamenting. After a lot of crying, though, the Holy Spirit came to comfort me. He/she has time and time again. The last straw was being raped in Haiti, where I was doing missionary work after the 2010 earthquake. My boys were grown, and I checked myself into a program. I was sure someone was going to eat me if I didn’t. There I met Ked Frank. He’s proven to be something like a father, brother, and friend. He gave me a good Christian foundation and a Kentucky river baptism and I couldn’t be more grateful for him. In his program, I finally felt safe. One day, he promised to be there when I got married, which was a dream of mine. I intended to hold him to that promise. Many years later, I found my home and safe place. I live on an island with no crime, a general store, massive oaks and dirt roads. Here I met my loved one, Ed. Two years after meeting him, we decided to get married. I messaged Ked and asked him if he intended to keep his promise. To my surprise, he did. He came to Georgia, all the way from Colorado, to give me away at my wedding. I couldn’t be more grateful or happy about that, because he’s filled those missing spaces as the man of God that he is. My father wasn’t there, but I had my brother in Christ by my side, and everything was alright! Ked has a heart for women, and he does a great job of nurturing, talking and listening. I can only hope that the women at Safe Places For Women can hear him when he talks. He will not lead you astray, and he is definitely a Promise Keeper! God Bless you on your journeys to safety, Sisters. I pray that Christ leads you to the altar, where you throw down everything that’s made you feel unsafe and unclean. Then I hope that he gives you your safe place, and a community to love you abundantly”. Amanda
