At a young age I started lying to my parents and showing signs of rebellion. I started drinking at parties and becoming involved with a wild crowd. When I entered college, I was introduced to cocaine, which eventually led to an addiction to drugs and alcohol. After flunking out of college, I tried to get straight by going into a rehabilitation program for 30 days. Only weeks after finishing I began using again but this time I was also taking prescribed psychiatric drugs. I could not stay straight. I was trying desperately to fill an emptiness ... an emptiness that remained no matter how many men I knew or how many parties I attended.
I began to hear voices that eventually led me into the state psychiatric hospital three times. At a time when I thought I'd spend the rest of my life in a state hospital, my pastor told me about the Walter Hoving Home. I decided to come to the Home as a last ditch effort. Not only was I bound by drugs and despair, but I was facing criminal charges which could have resulted in 30 years in Federal prison.
It was at the Home when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior and my life began to change. I found that only Jesus could fill that void in my life and offer me unconditional love. He gave me hope for a new way of life and dreams for the future. There has also been restoration and healing in my family relationships. My life has been turned around and given new direction at the Walter Hoving Home.
My name is Jill Mangeney and I am 21 years old. First of all I just want to give God all the glory and praise for changing my life inside and out. I grew up in Bucks County, PA. God has blessed me with a loving family. I grew up in a Christian home and we went to church every Sunday. My family provided for all my needs and wants. In school I always felt inferior and the other children made fun of how I looked. This caused me to have very low self-esteem.
At the age of fourteen I started smoking marijuana because I wanted to fit in with my friends. This numbed all those feelings of insecurity I had. In just a couple of years I started doing harder drugs. Cocaine and angel dust were just two of the many drugs I tried to fill the emptiness that I had inside.
My parents did not know how to help me. All I wanted to do was party. I thought my way was best. I would end up in the hospital for my drug abuse but that did not make me come to my senses. Where was God?
All I knew was that I was a loser. There was no hope for me. I had over twenty jobs in
two years and I became bulimic. I did not know what to do. I just wanted to die. My
mom stuck by me for eight years. Finally even she gave up on me. There was one who
never gave up, God. The Lord put my pastor in my life. He had told me about the
Walter Hoving Home. I have been here only a short time but He has done a miracle
within me. I no longer feel like I can't do anything or be anybody. I love to tell others
what Jesus has done in my life. I know now that there's hope with Jesus and I can't wait
to see what He has in store for my life. I plan to complete the Walter Hoving Home and
follow where Christ leads me. The scripture I'd like to leave you with is II Corinthians
4:16 "Therefore I will not lose heart, though outwardly I'm wasting away, yet inwardly
I'm being renewed day by day.