Stories to Inspire...

The Story of Rita

Read how Rachel's House, a ministry to woman who've left prison, helped change Rita's life.

I came to a house of love on Bellows Ave. in May of 2003. I was nervous, my heart was pounding, my stomach turning flip-flops. I believe the nervousness came from wanting to succeed in God 's eyes. Let me explain my journey to Rachel's House for women.

It was a beautiful, sunny, joyous, spring day. The birds were singing, the wind was blowing just right. Soon I was being released from the women's institution. One day while I was sitting on a very hard iron bunk, thinking about life, I said to myself, "Rita, what are you going to do with your life? You can't keep living like this. It's time to make a change. "

I had been going to a different Bible Study and church, and I had actually dedicated my life to the Lord. This was one of those days when I was deep in thought. Many things were running through my head! My age was running through my head - I was not getting any younger. My education was running through my head - I need some more schooling. My life was running through my head - where I am going once I am released? My roommate Debbie walked in and interrupted my deep thoughts, as usual.

"Rita, there's a Bible Study on the compound called Rachel's House," Debbie said. "It's on Tuesday at 2:30 and it offers faith-based housing."

I just laid there looking at her in disbelief. "This can't be true. I have been praying and asking God for something of the sort," I thought. Then all the sudden, I jumped up and started shouting, laughing, and praising Him for such a blessing.

The next Tuesday, I walked in the room where we have Bible Study. It was always dreary and colorless, but today it was so light and bright. As I looked around, I saw ten or eleven metal chairs and dingy, dirty windows. At first, I could not understand the light. I searched the room; I saw a 4 ft. 11 inch Italian woman. As she turned, she had a smile as big as the sun. What a sight! Her smile lit up the whole room!

"Hello, my name is Pastor Jan," she said. "Welcome to the Rachel's House Bible Study."

My first response was "What am I doing here? What can this woman offer me?" So I sat down in one of those cold metal chairs, looked at the lady and said, "I want to change my life."

This day began a whole another life for me. I attended these studies for six months, then came the release day.

On May 15th I walked out of Franklin Pre-Release Center. Pastor Jan was there to pick me up with another woman named Gwen. Gwen welcomed me with open arms, a big smile, and a cold Pepsi. She asked if I was happy to be out and what did I want to do that day. I said, "I want to go shopping for shoes with heels and a pair of sunglasses."

The ride to the house was exciting. To just ride in a car with the wind in my hair- looking out the window at the tree blooming, the birds singing, brought tears to my eyes. I was so overjoyed, just rejoicing how God has blessed me with a faith-based house.

Once at the house, the women there brought me gifts. Jennifer was sitting in a rocking chair with so much love in her eyes. She said, "Welcome home and Jesus loves you."

What a joy to know that I was in a Christian house. She handed me a beautiful bag that had the loudest color of orange, purple, and yellow flowers on it. Inside as lotion, shower gel, and powder, the fragrance of peach. It smelled so fresh and fruity.

Then there was Kathleen, another short lady with an awesome smile, greeting me with love saying how glad she was that I decided to make this house my home. The house itself made me feel ecstatic, overjoyed, with love. My mind was running a hundred miles a minute. I was trying to take all this in, I could not believe that this was real and all this love was for me.

After seeing my new room there was conversation with getting-to-know-you questions. Jennifer asked, "How many children do you have?"

I said, "Two, a son who is 32 and a daughter who is 29."

Pastor Jan said, "Rita, we will be taking you out to lunch to a restaurant called Josiah's."

Three or four ladies met us there. They were volunteers. I was so blessed to meet so many people that wanted to meet me. Oh, and the gifts and love that was shown at lunch made the food take a back seat. But the food was good. I had a salad with chicken, turkey, fresh tomatoes, and cucumbers. Oh, just savor the taste in my mouth! Everything was fit to my taste; how delicious! The apple pie was homemade, the crust flaky just melted in my mouth. I had to keep saying such joy. When we got back to the house, there was more food, cake and ice cream, and more people for me to meet.

When I laid down that night, I was exhausted. But it was a good tired, the kind where you cannot go to sleep. I did not want the day to end. It was like a dream, or sitting watching a movie with me in the leading role. Only this was real. As I sit today and writing this paper, I am still in the Rachel's House, working, attending church regular and in college. Now isn't God good?

About Rachel's House:
Rachel's House exists to prevent adult women from re-entering prison following their incarceration through education, character and life skill development, and mentoring. Find out more by going to http://www.lower-lights.org and clicking on the link to Rachel's House.