Lea la historia de Sofia en Español aqui.

My ex-husband was a very manipulative, possessive person. He had so badly mistreated me, beat me and raped me. He wouldn’t let me work and wouldn’t provide for me. He would sometimes call the police and tell them it was I who was beating him.

This time in my life was just so difficult for me. I was in such a difficult situation that I was asking God for death because of everything I was going through. I just couldn’t do it anymore.

Finding safety

When I came here to the United States, we first moved to Maryland. I brought my middle child from the Dominican Republic and then I gave birth to my youngest daughter. My ex-husband’s treatment of me didn’t stop during or after the pregnancy. After she was born, I finally decided that I couldn’t continue living like this. When my youngest daughter was about 2-months-old, I decided I had to get away.

I reached out to my sister’s ex-husband here in Georgia, and I told him about what had been happening to me. He told me, “You can’t be in that situation anymore.”

My ex-husband was a truck driver, and I told him to bring me to Georgia out of desperation. All I wanted was to feel at peace. We made a deal and he brought me to Georgia in 2014. I came with the few things I had of my girls.

Now that we were finally feeling safe and away from my husband, I started working to earn a living for my family. I bought a car, I found a job working as a cleaner and I was able to start putting some money aside. I saved enough money to bring my oldest daughter from Santo Domingo.

Things took a turn

Fast forward a couple of years, and things were going well. I had a steady job. It was difficult, of course, but I was happy and my family was safe. 

But then, on a normal day just like any other, I went off to work and I fell. I had injured my leg severely, and I had to be taken to the hospital. The doctors told me they needed to do surgery on my leg. I ended up needing to undergo two surgeries, which meant I wasn’t able to work and earn a living.

During that recovery period, I was collecting small checks and getting a little bit of financial help each week, but it wasn’t nearly enough to support a family. In 2020, I was evicted from my home. I couldn’t go back to work, so I became a taxi driver so I could earn enough to keep my family in a hotel. I was able to get a basement to live in but then my support checks were taken away from me, and we were put back out onto the street. I had been forced to sleep in the backseat of our car. It was so hard and a traumatic time for all of us.

Reaching out to Atlanta Mission

I remembered someone telling us about Atlanta Mission. So, I looked it up and started calling and calling, and I was finally able to get some help.

I finally feel like I have support now. 

I’ve been living at Atlanta Mission and working in the kitchen. My life has definitely changed for the better. I didn’t have any resources before, but now, I have that and more. I finally feel safe and secure, and I don’t have to worry about having someone stick eviction papers on my door.

I’m no longer under the pressure and feeling the anxiety of hearing my daughters ask me, “Mommy, where are we going?” Everyone has a hot meal and a bed to sleep in. It’s a huge relief for me. 

I’m proud of the woman that I am, and all that I’ve been through. I thank God for everything in my life—every night before I close my eyes, I give Him thanks. I’m thankful for all He’s given me, and I’m thankful for Atlanta Mission and all of their support for me. I really needed it.