Geena's Story

"Before coming into Powerhouse, my life was defined by chaos. I lived in a constant state of fight-or-flight, moving from one abusive relationship to another, holding onto hope that often felt completely out of reach. Survival was my normal, and peace felt like something other people had access to, not me.

In the middle of that chaos, I became pregnant with my son. My partner was not physically abusive at first, and I held onto the hope that pregnancy might bring change. Wanting to create stability for my child, I entered another program so I could safely deliver my son, believing things might be different when I returned home.

But instead, the abuse escalated. What began emotionally eventually became physical. The breaking point came when he left bruises on my body in front of my five-month-old son. At that moment, everything became clear. Looking at my child, I knew this could not be his future.

So I left.

I found Powerhouse in July 2024 and entered the program in August. The journey has not been easy, but the transformation God has done in my life is undeniable. I am unrecognizable compared to who I was before. I have learned to love myself—even the parts shaped by pain. I have learned to forgive myself for the choices I made while surviving, to forgive those who hurt me, and to extend forgiveness to those I hurt along the way.

Through this process, my entire perspective on life has changed. I no longer chase the things I once believed defined my worth. Instead, I am grounded, inspired, and free from the need to prove myself.

To anyone entering this program or feeling stuck in life, the best advice I can offer is this: just say yes! Let go of what you think you need and trust Him with everything. Take the risk. What God has in store is far greater than anything you could imagine.

My life changed the moment I surrendered everything I knew and stepped into everything I didn’t. The outcome has been blessings I never thought I deserved. Today, I am a student at Folsom Lake College, working toward becoming a dental hygienist. I am just getting started, and while I don’t know exactly where God will lead me next, I know this—through Him, anything is possible." 

- Geena, Graduate of the Women and Children's Center