Thank you so much for appearing on the video “Sin by Silence.” I was privileged to see a screening of it tonight at Vanguard University. It was such an encouragement to see Brenda in person. I pray that someday soon, you too, will regain your freedom.

I just want to write to tell you that hearing your stories really touched my heart. I admire you all for having the courage to share the stories of your lives on camera openly and honestly. I hope and pray that this movie will have a tremendous impact to change our world for the better–it starts with 1 voice. In this particular case 6 voices were highlighted and I hope it will be all the more influential.

I grew up in an abusive home; mostly mental and emotional, but the physical reared its ugly head every so often. Nearly every night my father would get set off by something—clothes on the floor, dinner not ready and waiting, if his kids didn’t exuberantly greet him when he got home—into a drunken rage until the early hours of the morning. Hitting my mother, throwing beer bottles close to someone’s face, and always threats of what would happen if we ever left him increased as time went on. As a young child, I knew I couldn’t tell anyone anything about what happened at home, at night. By 5 yrs old I had a plan to run away if anything ever happened to Mom; I did not want my sister and I to be left alone with him. And the worst part of it all was I thought this kind of behavior was normal; I knew everyone didn’t live this way, but it was the norm for how I lived, at least. We left twice. Went back after he’d “changed.” Finally when I was 12 yrs old we left for good. We went into a shelter and disappeared. However, by the time I was 11 I realized the depravity of his behavior. I lost all respect for him and began to resent him. If my mother hadn’t gotten us out of there; I’m sure I would’ve have killed him myself within a few years. But God is good—I’m now 24 and keeping both eyes open for those red flags, so I can have a healthy relationship. My mom now leads a domestic violence ministry at our church and is working with community support efforts.

All that to say, I can relate in some small way to what you’ve been through. I commend you ladies for taking your deep hurts and pain, seeking help and healing in the CWAA, and then now turning it around to help others and improve our society. I encourage you to keep truckin,’ as my grandpa would say—keep moving forward, doing the best you can. Continue to seek help and healing. Know that your voice is making a difference. Please keep striving for change. One day the laws will be improved and I pray that eventually violence in the home will only be a barbaric thing of the past.

Thanks again, for sharing.

Sincerely,

Katrina
Costa Mesa, CA