​My name is Ingrid. I was born in Mexico, De Vera Cruz. I’m 18 years old.

Right now, I live at

One7. One7 is a non-profit ministry. We helped with families that are struggling and need help.

The apartment has 18 apartment complexes. I live one7, for eight and a half years living there.

It’s a beautiful place to live there. The families are Latinos, Asians, Africans, and Americans.

The moment that I came to the U.S., was crazy. I didn't know where I was at the moment I

arrived in the U.S. All I want to do is experiencing the world. Our family moved to many places.

But it was hard. Why? Well, it's because my parents never let me or my siblings go outside and

see how beautiful charlotte was. Since I came to America, it was hard for me to understand

English. It took months for me to start school and it was hard for me. I started school when I was

11 years old and put on the 3rd grade. Ever since I was on the waiting list for me to go to school,

I felt like I was an adult. How? It’s because I always helped my mother when she’s home. I

helped her with cooking, cleaning the house, and babysitting. I felt like I was a great maid for my

mother. My other siblings would go to school and do their business. They won’t help my mom.

On that day, I remember how I make my mom smiled because she never saw me helping her

before with things that are hard in life to be a mother of six kids. My father would work all the

time. He would work his butt to raise us and help his family. Let me take you back when I was

nine years old. When we used to live near Briarwood, I remember a cute, small, and white house.

At that moment, when I was sitting on the couch and watching my show. My mother was

cleaning the room. When I was still watching my show, my uncle Joel, was about to come and sit

beside me. He was trying to put his hand to my legs. At that moment, I didn't even move. I felt

frozen. About two minutes ago, my mom came out of the room and saw what she saw. My mom

called me to go to the room, so I did. My mom was asking me a question saying, “ Did he
touched you?” And I said. “ Yes, he put his hand to my leg.” As my mom came out to the room,

she started to yell and crying. She told Joel to get out of here. So he did. Two years ago, he never

came back. In 2015, we moved to the Country Club Apartments. As we moved there, it felt like a

new life to me. I remember when I was eleven years old, I was looked outside from the window

and see things that I’ve never seen. It’s call One7 Ministries. Every Tuesdays and Thursdays,

they do these big nights and share the Gospel of God. They would do activities, circle up, dinner,

small groups, and do worship. I remember when I went there for the first time, I felt loved. When

we did worship, I hear the roaring thunder of God speaking to me share my testimony to the

others. So I did. It felt life-changing. My siblings and I would go often to One7. Our parents

don’t like us being outside a lot because it’s not safe, I guess so. A few months ago, our father

would be drunk. He would have seizures by biting his tongue. Our mother and my older sister

would be on the phone and text guys. For me to see that, it was wrong. On a Saturday night, our

mom found out that our father was cheated on my mom. Our mother, didn’t do or say anything.

Our mother decided to leave us with our father. We were young, when our mother left us. It was

heartbreaking. On a normal day, we would go downstairs and never smelled the amazing food

that our mom would always cook. Every morning, our mother would cook Arroz Con Leche. The

taste of it, always bring me joy. Ever since our mother left, it felt different without her. I would

like three months later, since our mother left us, our father would bring his friends and start to

drink. My older sister, Yomira was raped by one of my dad’s friends. When our father was

looking for one of his friends, when our father went inside the house, he saw his friend on top of

her. Our dad kicked him out and started to fight him. Our dad was in tears and angry. Around

11:45 pm, that’s when I saw four people in front of the house. Their names are David Garrett,
Carlos, Wendy, and Kyle. David, the founder of One7, felt something that our family needed

help. They were talking to our dad and he was telling them what happened that night. I

remember when our dad drew a map where his friend lived because of what happened to my

older sister. So the staff helped our dad and found the guy. Around midnight, the police found

the bad guy and arrest him. The next day, someone came to our door and started to knock. As I

opened it, it was David Garrett. He was willing to help our father and us. David Garrett said, “

Would you like for us, One7 staff, willing to take care of your kids?” And our father said, “ yes.”

Our father would see us only on Sundays. It’s because he doesn’t work on Sundays. It’s been

seven years, it lasted. One7, has been impact my life for a very long time. God has been in life

for about seven years. I’ve been baptist about two years ago. What I’ve been achieved in my life,

is going to be American Citizen. The past for my testimony, was crazy and rough. Now that look

my life today, is amazing and strong. Our mother will always come and visit us at One7. We

love our mother. Even if she left us, we still love her. I’m thankful for God, David Garrett, and

One7. Thay mean a lot to me. They are part of my life and my testimony. For my future, I want

to go pro at soccer, own bakery, and go to Montreat College. What I think about myself, I’m a

strong person and never gives up.