Christ For the City International

Carol - From the streets to a fulfilled life

San Jose, Costa Rica

Carol slept that night in a vacant lot, dressed in a trench coat and expensive high heels. "It was the worst," she recalls. Her addiction began when she was just 13-years-old. At first, it was just cigarettes and liquor, but then it was on to synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy and LSD. At 16, she was out of control. She even slept in the house of her drug dealer.

Her parents knew of her problems, but minimized them. Her mother took her out of high school and put her in night school. When that didn't work, she sent Carol to live with her grandparents in another part of the country. 

Far from improving, Carol fell deeper and deeper into addiction. After a while, she returned to her mother's house, but the constant fighting with her mother sent her to the streets and the vacant lot.

One day, while walking through a park, she was reunited with her mother. Her mom asked her to go into a program where she could get help. Her mother said, "If you're not in a center, you'll be sent to an asylum." Carol went home with her mother where was able to bathe and have a meal. 

Later that day, Carol's mom took her to Renacer - CFCI's therapeutic center for girls in San Jose, Costa Rica. At first, Carol thought she would be there only a few weeks. "When I realized I would be in Renacer for several months, I was very upset." But little by little, the anger gave way to acceptance of her problems.

Thanks to the professional approach and the spiritual renewal, Carol understood the reasons for her addiction and the road to a new life was created. Carol says, "You have thousands of feelings within you. At that time, you learn to appreciate who you are and understand the meaning of love and God." So says this young 22-year-old. 

While at Renacer, Carol took the time and studied to be an administrative assistant. Now, she is married and a mother. She works with her husband in their event production business. 

A life transformed by Christ and the generous CFCI donors who support Renacer! Visit www.cfci.org to learn more and join where God is working through CFCI!