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You are here: Home / The Prince of Peace: Cait’s Story

The Prince of Peace: Cait’s Story

As we near the end of 2018, God has blessed us with the opportunity to share an update from our first House of Hope graduate in 2014, Caitlyn Dietrich-Hannah. The purpose of this letter is to share what has happened since Cait’s time at the little stone house in Glen Rock.  What seeds have been planted?  What are the fruits that God has grown?  How does the support of others affect what God is doing in this ministry?  How is the Prince of Peace present in Cait’s life today?  Here is her story:

I grew up in a super dysfunctional home without my father, which made my life unbalanced and distorted from the beginning. As a child I was always the one to do the opposite of what I was told. My mom, Denise, would call me the “bad girl”, as I had a pattern of struggling in daycare and school environments. Unfortunately, this became the identity I connected with the most. I defied authority for most of my childhood years. As my teenage mind attempted to recall happy childhood memories, there were none; this began to build a wall between my mom and me. At the same time, my mom was hurting and struggling with her own darkness, depression, and drug addiction. All of this contributed to the destruction of my relationship with her. I was hurting inside, and I began to make choices throughout my freshman year that set me in a downward spiral. Not having close friends became a norm for me. My search for significance continued, and I chose to deal with my pain and loneliness through poor social decisions and finding acceptance in guys, all the while struggling academically. During this time period, I always heard a voice telling me these were the wrong choices to be making. As a method of coping with the reality and truth that were so desperately trying to get my attention, I justified my actions and made exceptions for my behavior, and the downward spiraling continued in my life.

 I was just going to rush through the program like a check off list … but God had other plans!

In 2010, with no hope in sight, House of Hope entered my story. I began non-residential counseling with my mom, as the residential program was not yet available. The program offered us a lot; however, my mom struggled sharing the truth regarding her life and urged me to do the same. Unfortunately, minimal changes were being made throughout this time. Without the truth, God could not move in our lives. It was during this time that the House of Hope leadership extended a hand of grace and sponsored my attendance at Christian School of York for my sophomore year. Due to the unstable home atmosphere I had always been exposed to, I moved in with the director of House of Hope, Lori Ziegler. For the first time in my life, I experienced structure, and I began the process of finding out who God was. After moving into the newly opened residential home on June 1st, 2012, I became immersed in an unconditional love I never knew existed. I realized what I had been missing out on – what all my house parents and mentors had that I desired – was God. Through the Hope Academy school, I had one-on-one instruction for my education, raising my grades from D’s to A’s and B’s. House of Hope gave me the right balance of discipline and love that I needed to thrive both spiritually and academically. I found it a privilege to be separated from the world for that season of my life. I started to realize I am a beautiful child of God, and I am worthy of His love.

While I was at House of Hope, things at home continued to remain unstable for my mom. As much as she desired to be a part of my new journey, it did not come easy for her. My mom was inspired by what Jesus was doing in my life, but the power of her choices and addictions prevented her from accepting these changes to be a part of her own life. I allowed the Lord to direct my steps to bring as much healing as possible into our relationship. In March of 2014, my mom fell into a deep depression that resulted in her taking her own life, just a month before my graduation from House of Hope.

While I was proud of my graduation and my accomplishments, the tragic loss of my mom brought a time of confusion and new struggles for me.  It was hard, and it hurt.  Rebellious behavior returned into my life, but not without my now-known knowledge of who I am in Christ.

As I plundered through this season of both bad and good decisions, I found my desire to get my life back on track, which included enrolling in the Empire Beauty School for cosmetology.  I received my cosmetology license, despite some trials along the way, and I have now earned a successful position at Tam Nail and Spa.  During this time, I was reconnected with a past friend, Quincy, who later became my husband and the father to my two daughters, Karina and Delilah.  They fill my life with joy.  While I sometimes stray from my spiritual responsibilities, I can always feel the ever-present Father directing my path.  My life has not always been trouble-free since my time at House of Hope, but the difference now is that I have met the Lord and formed a relationship with Him.  It was through House of Hope that I learned self-discipline and how to encounter an intimate relationship with my Savior.  In this season of navigating the right and wrong, I know where to find my peace.  Even when my busy life does not allow me to seek it, God is there.  He is helping me to strengthen my marriage.  He is helping me to become a loving mother to my daughters.  He has taught me to have empathy for those who suffer from depression, just as my mom did.  He is helping me to find forgiveness.  He brings me Peace in tough and difficult moments.  He is my Prince of Peace!

Thank you for helping to write Cait’s story through your support of God’s work at House of Hope

 

Caitlyn’s lantern release to honor her mom during a suicide awareness gathering
Caitlyn and her mom, Denise
Caitlyn, Quincy, Karina, and Delilah

 

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Office Info

House of Hope | York, PA
3899 Sticks Road
Glen Rock, PA 17327

Phone: 717-235-3198

Office Hours:
9:00 am-4:00 pm Mon-Fri

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If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill out a Volunteer Application, and e-mail it to volunteer_application@houseofhopeyork.org.

Our Mission

House of Hope York PA is a non-profit organization that brings hope, healing and restoration to hurting teens and their families through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Our purpose is to be a model of Christ’s love by providing, counseling, academic education, life skills education and spiritual guidance. This combination of services provides the teens with the capability to re-enter society as God-assured, purpose-driven individuals able to cope with the challenges and pressures of everyday life. House of Hope is a unique program that combines both the teen and the parents in the healing process. Parents are actively involved in counseling programs, parenting classes, and receive spiritual guidance as well. Our on-site school, Hope Academy, is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and provides our teens a formal education through a self-paced curriculum (ACE) designed to meet their performance levels. Our residential home, office and school are located in Glen Rock, PA

At House of Hope our mission is to change lives … one teen at time!

Our Vision:

Heal, restore, and reconcile hurting teens and their families.

Our Values:

Christ-centered, Christ illuminating, Life generating, Relationship enhancing and Kingdom growing.

Read MORE about our programs –>

 

 

National House of Hope is a national not-for-profit organization established to serve as a catalyst to the development of a network of Houses of Hope across the country.  This work is based upon Biblical principles, proven to provide both workable and successful solutions in restoring troubled teens and their families, resulting in these teens becoming solid citizens and effective, contributing members of society.  National House of Hope provides training, consulting, guidance in resource development and serves as a communications network in the establishment of Houses of Hope. Find out more at www.nationalhouseofhope.org



Hours & Info

3899 Sticks Road
Glen Rock, PA 17327
717-235-3198
Office Hours:
9:00 am-4:00 pm Mon-Fri

Newsletters

3/17/20 Peanut Butter Egg Update

3/3/2020 Peanut Butter Egg Time

1/23/2020 You made things happen!

Events & Campaigns

2019 Summer Matching Campaign
2019 Spaghetti Dinner

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