When life felt hopeless, Sami reached a breaking point. Addiction and trauma had left her isolated and afraid, but God met her in the middle of her pain. Through the compassionate care she received at Portland Rescue Mission’s Shepherd’s Door, Sami discovered healing, community, and lasting transformation. Today, she’s walking in freedom, and helping other women do the same.
“I’m learning what it means to live with purpose,” she says. “God didn’t just save me; He’s transforming me.”
When Sami arrived at Portland Rescue Mission, she was exhausted: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Years of addiction and abuse had taken their toll. She had lost nearly everything that gave her life meaning, and she feared she might never find her way back.
But God was already writing a new story…
At Shepherd’s Door, Sami found more than a safe place to sleep—she found community, healing, and hope. “When I first came, I didn’t think I deserved love,” she shares. “But everyone here treated me like I mattered. I began to believe that maybe God really could change my life.”
Through classes, Christian discipleship, and time in God’s Word, Sami began to confront the pain that had kept her trapped for so long. She learned to forgive herself and those who had hurt her. Slowly, the walls came down, and her faith began to grow.
Today, Sami radiates the joy and peace she once thought impossible. She’s rebuilding relationships with her family, working toward her goals, and mentoring other women in recovery. Her story is a beautiful reflection of PRM’s Transformation Model, from Get Help and Stabilize, to Recover and Give Back. Sami is living proof that with faith, support, and compassion, new life is possible.
This Christmas, as we celebrate the hope found in Christ, we celebrate stories like Sami’s—stories of redemption, renewal, and restoration.
Watch Sami share her full story of transformation.
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