A stark contrast
If you were to wait in line beside Ekatirina at the local coffee shop, pass her in the parking lot at the grocery store, or worship in the seat next to her at church, you may never guess her history or assume the kind of fiery trials that have built her resilience.
She looks very put together, at least by society’s standards.
Since her 2018 graduation from the New Life Fellowship recovery program, Ekatirina now has a home. She has a job. She has a car. She has a couple of dogs.
Ekatirina is now also married to a man unmatched by any other she’s known. “I feel very loved, safe, and secure. I’ve never felt that before in a relationship,” she says, after explaining that they founded their marriage on God’s truth.
All of this starkly contrasts life in 2015.
Supernatural orchestrations
“When I got really into drugs, into meth, and lost everything, I was living on my mom’s property. At this point, I had no electricity, I had no food for my kids. I lost everything down to my ID,” says Ekatirina, whose own daughters were then taken into the care of their aunt in Indiana.
She was then given a dose of tough love when her mom asked her to move out.
Ekatrina’s life dwindled down to street living, fighting for her life, and finding herself in and out of jail.
Through a series of none other than supernatural orchestrations, God chased after Ekatirina, beckoning her to unload her burdens and missteps onto Him. Weary, she relinquished her life to Jesus Christ and found her way to Simonka Place.
“I ended up at Simonka because I had no other place to go. It changed my life, it was such an awesome experience,” she says. “I just dove into Jesus there. That’s all that really mattered. I grew a lot.”
The key to healing
Simonka Place means so much to Ekatirina that she’s been investing in the women since she graduated. “The schedule [at Simonka Place] is so structured, and I always tell the girls, ‘If you want to spend time with God, He will make time,” she says. “Even with the schedule the way it was, I would worship for hours. And I would think back ‘I don’t even know where I got those hours.’”
Ekatirina still worships unceasingly and doesn’t run out of reasons to praise God. In fact, publicly punching out notes to worship music as she worked at a local Shari’s Restaurant is what captured her, now, husband’s attention before they ever officially met.
“I like that there’s still that unknown part of my journey, and that excites me. My flesh journey and spiritual journey,” she remarks, referring to present life. “I would say that I’m proud, I’m happy with what God has done with me. I feel a peace.”
While so many life events have taken place since the last time she shared her story with the community, one thing remains unchanged: her unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ, who was, is, and always will be the key to her healing.
There are many stories of new life that have been born out of UGM; transformations that are standing the test of time. Ekatirina’s is just one of them.
You can help change the face of homelessness for people just like Ekatirina. Give today.
