.jpg)
Meet Nicole...
Hi! My name is Nicole and I am from Waterloo Ontario, Canada. I grew up in a Christian setting going to church every Sunday, and to a private Christian school every day. I come from a strict home full of rules. I was raised knowing what was right and what was wrong. In the eighth grade I started going to a public school and this is where my life started to change.
I learned very quickly that no one wanted to be friends with me because I wasn’t like them. I was shy, quiet and tried to never do anything bad. Even my Christian school friends deserted me. At that age, influence is everything. I became angry towards my parents for their rules and rebel led against them. I started running away from home and anything else to make them upset. By the time I entered high school, I was really insecure, depressed and angry with myself because I didn’t fit the mold. I wasn’t pretty enough, skinny enough or cool enough. When I started high school, I decided to step out and do whatever I needed to fit in. The people I hung around with encouraged the drinking and partying life style, I really didn’t care what I did as long as they were my friends. I hung around boys and was pressured into doing things to be cool. My “friends” skipped school, lied, snuck around their parents, and stole from people and stores, so I did too.
As much as I felt accepted, everything I did was leaving me feeling worse about myself. I would lash out at anyone who tried to help me. At sixteen, I moved an hour and a half away from my family in an attempt to run away from who I was. I found myself six months later, living with two older guys, not going to school, working and partying. I found myself being sucked into the drug world and all that comes with it. Not being able to afford such habits for long I ended up doing favors in exchange for drugs. I felt worthless unable to see any hope. I hated myself and who I had become. I eventually moved back home. I thought things would be different, but I was wrong, my heart didn’t change. The pit my life was in just got deeper, I really didn’t see myself getting out. Guys were my security, drugs were my wall, anger and bitterness was my strongholds. The final point was when I purposefully overdosed and was taken to the hospital. I realized that if there was a way out, I wanted it. The way out was Freedom Village.
A month later I entered the program. The first thing I noticed here is that people were smiling. My big sister in the program was full of love and joy for my angry, bitter soul. I didn’t understand how someone we can’t see could make everyone so happy. After only two weeks I was tired of the ugliness and feeling dirty. I thought if Jesus could change all these people here, then I wanted him to change me. I wanted him to change this mess I mad and make my life new again. When I asked Christ into my heart I felt an immediate joy and peace in my heart. All my sins and shame was gone.
My program here at Freedom Village has not been easy, in fact very difficult. Not long after getting saved I joined the horse program, ever since that time it has been my ministry. Starting at the bottom; horse barn has helped me learn to be on time, develop a good work ethic, deal with my anger, as well as building trust and love through my relationship with my horse. We learn how to take care of the horses, ride and I soon learned how to drive a pair of draft horses. I received my junior staff status and started helping run chore in the horse barn. Through this horse program here I have learned many life lessons that I will carry with me my whole life.
Other kids like Nicole need your help!
VIDEO TOUR
Send a Friend!
