Carolyn’s Story: Finding hope and healing

I had a really good childhood. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but we moved to Alabama after my father died when I was in fourth grade. 

I married young—he was a military man—so we traveled and moved around a lot. Georgia is the ninth state I’ve lived in now. 

I had lived in Chicago since 2011, and before that I raised a family just outside of Chicago in Champaign, Illinois. A few days after a man I had been in a relationship with for more than nine years had been shot and killed, my son from Atlanta visited me in Chicago and said, “Mama, that’s enough.” I needed a fresh start. I needed hope. I moved to Atlanta in June 2021, less than a month later.

My son from Atlanta visited me in Chicago and said, “Mama, that’s enough.” I needed a fresh start. I needed hope.

I didn’t want to rely on my son or his fiancée. I had income, but when I moved to Atlanta I came here to My Sister’s House. I knew they could help me while I tried to find housing. 

Moving to Atlanta was scary, but I knew there were some great opportunities here. 

I’ve loved the experience at My Sister’s House so far. The accommodations are so nice, and I’m fortunate enough to have made enough progress so I could move to the other side of the building into a suite. 

In my transition, it couldn’t be better. It felt like God placed me in the right place at the right time. He just picked me up and placed me outside right here. It came at a time when I really needed healing. I’m so grateful for this place. 

I’m still grieving and mourning, but I’ve found so much healing. We have classes every day that are miraculous, and I’m learning so much. I feel like you don’t have a chance to mope around because it’s “up and go.” It’s a new chapter in my life.

I have hope now. I know I’m going to make it, and these people are just here carrying me along the way until I get where I need to be.

Help others like Carolyn 

My Sister’s House works with each woman and child that comes through its doors to address their spiritual, physical, emotional, relational and vocational needs. We want to be sensitive in our approach so we can respond to each person’s unique needs.

Give to Atlanta Mission or volunteer with us to help others like Carolyn on their journey of rediscovering hope at Atlanta Mission.