My Name is Mariah Casto. I grew up in a fatherless home with many different men in and out of my life. Home was very dysfunctional with verbal and mental abuse. My grandparents called things like stupid, never amount to anything, etc.
I believed the lies and it became my identity. From the age ten to sixteen I was sexually abused by 4 men whom some were family members. I became extremely depressed, and I tried to cover my pain with five attempts of suicide and overdosing on pills. During this I was introduced to drugs at fourteen years old. I used it to socialize with others and feel “normal.” I hated myself and felt like my childhood was stripped from me.
November 7, 2018, I went to Teen Challenge for 17 months where I met Jesus and tried to change my life. Towards graduation I knew I didn’t take anything seriously. I went home for a six-day visit with my family and I relapsed with alcohol within thirty minutes of being home. I felt devastated and completely lost and confused. I didn’t understand what happened, but I knew in my heart I should not have went back into the dysfunction I came from.
March 25, 2020, I came to the Freedom Home where I fell deeper in love with Jesus. I knew I needed a do- over and to take things from the head to the heart. I learned who I am in Christ and that I had to choose to believe and confess who I am in Him.
Now I know that I am a masterpiece, created in the image of Christ, made for good works to fulfill the will of God. I am proud to be a disciple of Christ and be a part of something big.
I know my future includes evangelism and reaching lost souls from abuse
and neglect. I am now an intern at the Freedom Home and take on the role
in evangelism on the streets, mentor at the Freedom Home, and ministering the gospel everywhere I go!
Just know no matter what you’ve done or whatever you’ve been through, Ephesians 2:10 says that you are God’s masterpiece! You are unique and you are one of a kind!
Return to main page