Kylie
Kylie’s goals are that of most teenagers. She wanted straight A’s, her driver’s license, a car, a job and one day, a college education. A year ago, those goals weren’t on her radar. Bad choices led her into a life of rebellion, promiscuity and deceit, which caused some serious consequences. With their relationship strained, Kylie’s mom decided it was best for Kylie to live at Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC). With a fear of the unknown and very little expectations, Kylie moved to one of OBHC’s campuses. She began counseling, got into a peer group and started learning more about herself, boundaries and God. It was an atmosphere she wasn’t used to but it’s how God began changing her path. In the last year, Kylie has gained a new outlook on life. She says, “I am a completely different person than I was when I came here. I’ve got all A’s in my classes, I’m making lifelong friendships and have an amazing relationship with my mom again!”
Kylie has made great strides in developing self-motivation to do well and she has put in the effort to work on areas in which she struggles.Her demeanor has shifted from one of hostility and rebellion to having a teachable spirit and eagerness to take on new responsibilities. Kylie said these changes were only possible because of the support system God has placed in her life at OBHC.
“I love having people in my life who care about me, listen to me and always encourage me in my accomplishments. I love the devotional time our houseparents lead and how we spend so much time learning about God and how He loves us.”
She is quick to point out that everything is not perfect. She still has struggles and frustrations, but she feels equipped to handle them in a healthy and godly way.
Kylie is still asking many questions about what it means to follow Christ and says she is excited to know Him more. “We were just studying about the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 and I’ve been asking God to give me a heart with good soil! I want to have deep roots. I want to know the gospel and live it out so other people can know it too. I want to soak up everything.” Through Bible study, devotional times, prayer and encouragement, Kylie is learning more about Christ and continues to seek out answers on how to live a life that looks like Jesus.
“I just look around at what is happening in my life and I’m so grateful!” Kylie believes she was created for so much more than what she had been doing in the past. She said God put OBHC and their staff in her life at just the right time. “I want to tell everyone who makes it possible to live here, thank you for caring about us! Thank you for helping make a place for kids like me who need it right now, for the ones who have moved on and the ones who will come in the future. I’m a completely different person than I was.”
