News · 05.19.2010 Kelley’s Story

Kelley’s Story

Kelley, 16 years old, a current LifeHouse resident, came to live with us in August of 2009. She gives us a quick glimpse into her thoughts about LifeHouse and it’s impact on her life.

Before she found out that she was pregnant, Kelley admits that she was not the perfect child at home. “I had the worst attitude of anyone in my family, and everyone knew it. I was really lazy too. I would never pick up after myself, I would
never clean, I even stayed home from school whenever I wanted to. If I felt even a little bit sick I would just stay home.”

During Kelley’s first few weeks at the maternity home she was depressed to say the least. She felt out of place and wanted to be home, to be at her school, with all that was familiar to her. However, her parents had made the final decision; Kelley would stay at LifeHouse throughout her pregnancy. Kelley shortly got through those
first couple of awkward weeks and began feeling comfortable. She soon found that she could talk freely to the houseparents and to the other residents about her pregnancy. Outside of LifeHouse she often felt extreme condemnation and humiliation when she sought simple answers to her questions about pregnancy. At LifeHouse she found that she was in the company of people she felt comfortable being honest with. “I felt like people could answer my questions without being angry at me for getting pregnant. My houseparents never degraded me or made me feel inferior because I got pregnant.”

Kelley’s parents have even noticed some transformation since she’s been at LifeHouse. Kelley told a story about one weekend when she visited home. “ My parents were shocked and amazed when they came home and saw that I had washed a sink full of dirty dishes.” Kelley says that now her parents often make comments to her siblings “Why can’t you clean up after yourselves like Kelley?”

However, there has been an even more significant transformation in her life. Kelley speaks honestly about how her relationship with her parents has improved. The constant fighting and disagreeing has subsided very much. There has been some real restoration and strengthening to their family. Kelley attributes much of this to the houseparents who taught her to control her emotions and her anger.

Kelley’s most fond memory of LifeHouse is sitting around the bonfire with all of the other girls. “We’re just all together, close friends, talking.” The camaraderie and the friendships are what Kelley values most about LifeHouse, “It’s the people that make LifeHouse good”.

She has grown close to a few girls who she believes will be lifelong friends. Although LifeHouse is not always the most “fun” place to live, Kelley says that she would recommend this ministry to a girl in her situation. The support, the relationships, the encouragement, and the counsel that she received at LifeHouse have been life changing for Kelley.

*Kelley is due in May 2010. Please pray for Kelley and her baby.Thank you!