Little Girl, Rise! Talitha Koum is a Spiritual House of Healing for women in conflict with Society who are recovering from alcohol and drug addictions.
Starr Peardon has since retired and a new star takes over. Meet Kimmie Jensen, the new Mother of Talitha Koum. Kimmie and I met at the church and heard her story.
This is part of her story.
I have struggled with addiction since the age of 6. For many years my family and the people I love became victims to my drug addiction. Although I am not able to change the past, the regrets that I have around the people I love and society as a whole, I am making positive changes in my life so that I can be someone my children will be proud of and a positive influence in the community and society at large.
While in prison, Talitha Koum was available to me. I had heard of this house that will take women who are falling through the cracks when no one else would. I was willing to do what I had to, to change my life. I made a call and took the direction given to me over the phone by Starr. I called her for about 2 months straight and on the day I was to appear in court to get out on bail, she was there to support me. I arrived at Talitha Koum in January 2007 from Surrey Pre-trial and my journey began.
I came into the house broken spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. I had lost any kind of beliefs or values I had. I didn’t know who I was. I didn’t trust anyone, especially myself. I didn’t believe that I deserved to have a good life because of the damage I had done through the years. I simply existed, not living life. I didn’t think that the walls I had put up would ever come down. I recognize that the walls were shame, guilt, anger, fear, low self-esteem, abandonment, judgment and control. I had no clue what the walls were; I just knew that I was a mistake.
I can remember the first time I walked through the doors of Talitha Koum; I felt peace wash over me and something I had never felt before. And for the first time in my life I thought everything would be OK. I know that what I had felt was the love of Starr and of all the people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself (that is God’s love).
Even the dog and cat at Talitha Koum showed me unconditional love.
Although I am not a religious person, I do go to Church to learn discipline and obedience to God. I have a belief that religion is for people who don’t want to go to hell, and spirituality is for people who have been there (Hell) and I don’t want to go back! The opportunity to search out various Churches, I have since found a church community who holds the same beliefs of the Beatitude’s spiritual principles.
I am blessed to be a part of something so amazing. I wouldn’t have taken the risk had it not been for the program at Talitha Koum. I have received so many gifts in my recovery and I have God, Talitha Koum and the program of Beatitudes to thank for this, for the women God has brought into my life and never giving up on me. Even when I went astray God accepted me back by placing people in my path to help me and teach me forgiveness and love.
I have the honor and the opportunity to continue the vision that Starr has started. To freely give back what was given to me, love, compassion, empathy, structure and a new way of life. To be given this privilege to believe in a woman until she can believe in herself. To see life come back in these women and reunite them with family and their children is the most ultimate fulfillment. To walk this journey with them and truly understand where they came from is a gift for us all. Every time I share my experience, strength and hope with another woman, God’s presence and healing.
I believe in Talitha Koum and all that it stands for. I believe what the founder Starr Peardon has begun and vision she sees.
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Fantabulous story. I don’t have much idea about religious. but this is an inspirational story. keep writing i will wait for next story.
Thank you. Most of my stories are based about the religion I practice. Catholicism.
The story of this is very inspiring. I don’t think “religious” is important. I am not a religious person either, but I have great faith in the Grace and Love of God and His Son. Keep seeking, never give up, and keep refreshing our spirits with stories like that. Thank you.
These women are very inspiring. Beatitudes is based on the Catholic religion and it’s a stepping stone for them. Whatever works that would make them better they will eventually find what they need. .