My name is Kim and I would like to tell you my story. Let me start with how I met Lisa Cohn, the founder of Living Water for Women.
I met Lisa when I was at Nassau County Correctional Facility back in 2017. She came in to do a workshop in the DART (drug, alcohol, rehab, treatment) program. I felt a connection to her immediately. It was her spirituality and the message she shared. I could not wait for her to come back. It took me a couple of weeks to open up to her and once I did, I began to heal. I am a firm believer that God puts people in your life for a reason. I knew I was facing some time and was trying to come to terms with it. Lisa helped me to cope. She also stood by me throughout my whole time in County and also when I went upstate to prison. Lisa continued to mentor me. We wrote on a continual basis. She set up a phone account, sent me packages, birthday cards and books. She made me feel like I mattered, like I was a human and not just an inmate or a number.
I don’t think Lisa can ever truly know what she did for me on the inside. – how all her help truly changed me and healed me.
God needed me to be still in order to change my ways, my thinking, and my behaviors. Lisa was just who God put in my path to bring me back. After 3 ½ years Lisa held a spot for me at the Living Water homes and when I was released, she welcomed me with arms wide open.
I came to Living Water with nothing more than the clothes on my back and I was provided with clothing, shelter, food and most importantly love, no judgement and a fresh start. After two months Lisa helped me get a really good job- something that I never thought I could do. I had planned on waitressing but she said I could do better than that. My new job took me in, trained me and also treated me with respect.
I love the woman that I have become. When you have faith, hope and love, all things are possible. I’ve been at Living Water for 11 months and I’m happy to say that now I have become the house manager. I can now bring a message of hope to others. I can give love and compassion to build others up as I am called to do. Hopefully I can make a change in someone so that they too can heal. This is what Living Water is all about. I thank God every day for answering my prayers and for letting Lisa and myself cross each other’s path. I am forever grateful.