Domestic Violence
Drug and/or Alcohol
Consulting Services
History and Case Stories
Domestic Violence
Drug and/or Alcohol
Consulting Services
History and Case Stories
The House that God Built
By Dana Scarbrough
Looking back, I realized two miracles had sat across from me at a small table in a dark restaurant. Debra and Erma, two miracles willing to share their testimony with me—practically a stranger.
Time passed quickly as I listened to their stories unfold and I find myself here today looking at pages of notes desperately searching for the right words. May God speak through me and tell the story—the story of "The House That God Built."
"When we get the house...," Debra would say. Then one day a banker came to town, wrote a $33,000 grant for "The House" and shortly after he moved away. Having received the funds for a down payment, "The House" was purchased and Mi Casa De Transiciones was born.
Debra entered "The House" with tears of joy and uncertainty. She began making her way through the house stopping in each room to pray. She prayed for furniture, bedding, food and kitchen supplies. She prayed that God would bless Mi Casa and send women and children in need of shelter from the world of pain. Debra was drawn to one bedroom in particular and there she said a special prayer. She prayed that God would send someone unique to occupy this room and, indeed, He did.
Debra had gone out to purchase stamps at her usual 7-11 store where she found out they were out, and had to go down the street to another store. Upon entering the store, she ran into Erma. Having previously met, Erma nor Debra cared for one another. Therefore, the accidental meeting was tense. The conversation led to Erma’s current circumstances. She was looking to leave her home and start a new life—a life apart from alcoholism, abuse, depression, and thoughts of death. Erma needed a place of refuge and Debra had rooms to fill, but neither made a solid commitment and both women departed.
The weeks passed and neither Debra nor Erma contacted the other. Debra was not convinced that Erma was the special person she had prayed for and Erma was having doubts about leaving everything to go and live with a woman she didn’t even like.
God had other plans. The nagging in Debra’s heart prevented her from accomplishing anything so she conceded to pay Erma a visit. On that same day, Erma had made a pact that if Debra came by she would go with her but if not, she would stay.
Erma moved into the house and into the special room where Debra had prayed. Erma was the first resident of Mi Casa De Transiciones. At this time, the house was still empty; no beds, furnishings, or food. Some miscommunication left Erma to her first week at the house alone. This situation did not strengthen the already weak relationship between Erma and Debra, but God saw them through and began answering Debra’s prayers with donations.
Contributions cam pouring in from many places. Erma set out immediately and proved herself invaluable. She was responsible for making the house a home by assembling all the loving donations throughout Mi Casa.
Mi Casa de Transiciones was created to be a therapeutic community. The training required to be a therapeutic community is very intense and complex. Erma became a part of that training. Soon clients began arriving and Erma’s therapy progressed. She learned to love herself, to care for others, overcome alcoholism, to forgive, and most importantly, to love and trust God above all else.
During this time, a baby blue car was donated to Mi Casa. This blue car reminded Erma of her father’s abuse. As a child, Erma and her siblings had been periodically locked in a similar car. Nevertheless, Erma would learn to drive in this car and she began a new part of her life, fondly referred to as "I Can’t"!
At the end of Erma’s first year at Mi Casa, she completed the program and was ready to graduate. At this point, Erma was running the program at Mi Casa. Graduation day came and at the ceremony, Erma was presented with white roses—a confirmation that she had surrendered everything to God.
After graduation, Erma left Mi Casa to find out who she was and with her took a piece of the Mi Casa puzzle. Debra prayed constantly for her return and today she is back.
The program at Mi Casa has been expanded to include "the Positive Connection", which is a drug and alcohol program. Erma has completed 7 of the 9 classes required to be a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor II and Mi Casa is blessed daily with this unique and special woman that God has sent.
"The House" that once had nothing is now a home and every need has been provided by God. Twenty-six of the twenty-nine women that have come to the shelter found the Lord and all the children know Jesus. Pastor Jim Singleton of Bread of Life church, once said, "Mi Casa De Tranciciones does more accidentally for serving the lost than most churches do on purpose."
Mi Casa doesn’t turn anyone away and they do not associate themselves with a particular denomination. The do not force religion, however, their testimonies cannot be ignored. For example, a generous man donated a piece of real estate. Debra consulted an agent in order to sell the property and was told it would take at least a year. Within two weeks, the program was sold and the proceeds paid for their 1998 mortgage on the house. Las Easter, a local First Baptist Church which had previously had no connection with Mi Casa, donated their Easter funds to them. This home of miracles was undeniably conceived through prayer.
Please keep Mi Casa in your prayers as I have learned that the D.A. withdrew their funding this past year. Those funds were used to pay the counselors both at the Safe House and in the Non-Residential Program. Mi Casa has survived despite all struggles, however, any and all support is needed.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is suffering
at the hands of abuse, there is a way out. God will help you but you must reach for the
door. Mi Casa can and will help.
History and Case Stories