I met Haydee at a prayer meeting this January and when I heard her story, I knew that it needed to be shared.
My childhood was extremely traumatic. As a young girl, I was sexually abused by my father for seven years and ended up on drugs and alcohol at an early age. By the time I was in my twenties, I stayed continually in very abusive relationships. I started selling drugs and then fell into prostitution and sex trafficking. I almost lost my mind around 25 years old and I barely held onto dear life. My second husband was my pimp. I had to get out of the relationship because I ended up in major trouble with the police was addicted to crack cocaine. I soon became involved in a bust and ended up on probation. Once I then violated probation, that’s when I almost killed someone. It was at that moment when I felt the Holy Spirit tell me “You are going to prison”. It was just something I knew was about to happen. The case against me had me looking at ten years. During the court proceedings, God intervened supernaturally and by His grace I was given nine months in prison. At one point, I had 21 outstanding warrants. The judge on my case was notorious for being hard and only by the grace of God did that judge show leniency. I was looking at ten years and given nine months. Once I went to prison, it was there that I gave my heart fully to Jesus. I didn’t talk to anyone in prison, I just read my bible, attended any spiritual classes they had, went to church anytime they held a service.
“That’s where I found my total freedom…in the Plain state prison.”
This was 17 years ago. Being locked up in a cell, I was able to sit down, read my bible, pray daily, and find Jesus.
“Prison was where I was most free”.
Once I was released, I met my husband, Justin. We have been married 11 years now. Both of us serve the Lord in different areas of ministry. Along with the prayer ministry at our home church, we lead a life group and are now working with local homeless and prison ministry.
