Client 74: Cultivating Hope from the Soil of Suffering
Some stories are difficult to hear, but they are important to tell.
Kendra’s* life has included experiences no person should ever have to endure. As a child, she survived unimaginable abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. The trauma she experienced could have defined the rest of her life.
Today, she is a survivor, advocate, educator, and ordained minister who uses her story to bring healing to others.
Kendra first connected with her nominating advocate from The Net FW several years ago while serving together on a survivor panel. Since then, she has remained deeply involved with organizations that support survivors and even steps in to lead classes at times.
Despite the ways the world has failed her, Kendra continues to believe in the goodness that exists in people. She continues to advocate for a future where women and children do not have to experience the same suffering she endured, and uses her voice to bring light into some of the darkest places.
But for much of this journey, one practical barrier continued to stand in her way: reliable transportation.
Without a vehicle of her own, Kendra depended on the generosity of others to get where she needed to go. She often relied on others for rides, spent significant amounts of money on ride-share services, or walked long distances to make it to appointments and commitments.
For someone whose calling involves caring for people in need, traveling to serve others, and sharing her story through speaking engagements, the lack of reliable transportation created significant limitations. It made it harder to minister, work, and fully step into the opportunities in front of her.
A Gift to Keep Moving Forward
When Kendra arrived for her vehicle giveaway, she was met with a gift that represented far more than transportation.
OnRamp DFW was able to provide her with a beautiful SUV donated by a generous supporter. The low milage vehicle was in excellent condition and is ready to serve her for years to come.
This vehicle will help her travel throughout the community and continue ministering to people who need encouragement, compassion, and hope.
It is also a reminder that while Kendra has spent much of her life giving to others, she is worthy of receiving support herself.
Her advocate shared that Kendra often pours herself out for others while neglecting her own needs. This gift was an opportunity for her community to say: you matter, your work matters, and the life you have fought so hard to build matters.
Those who know Kendra describe her as resilient, intelligent, outspoken, and unapologetically herself. She is someone who fights tirelessly for others, often putting the needs of those around her before her own.
Recently, Kendra completed her doctoral degree at Bright Divinity School and was appointed as a minister in the Methodist church. She has dedicated her life to walking alongside others who are hurting and pointing them toward the hope and restoration that God provides, even in the midst of difficult questions and painful experiences.
Lastly, Kendra is a published author. Her book is an honest and compelling look at how the realities of childhood abuse, addiction, and sexual violence can lead to a life of exploitation and human trafficking. Her story is not easy to read. Her language is direct but ultimately serves as a powerful reminder that we should not sanitize suffering and that there is always hope. If you are interested in reading her memoir, you can purchase it by clicking HERE.
Thank You for Making Stories Like Kendra’s Possible
Kendra’s story is a reminder that a person’s past does not have to determine their future. Because of the generosity of our donors and supporters, she now has the transportation needed to continue serving others and sharing hope throughout her community.
*Story and photos have been shared with the clients permission. Her name has been changed at her request to help protect her identity.
