Messages for Melissa

After reading Melissa's Story (http://www.homeless.org.au/people/melissa.htm), you are invited to post a message of support for her or make a comment in this thread.

Simply register as a member (http://forums.homeless.org.au/register.php) of the forums and reply to this message.

If this is a means to send a message to Melissa then please do so. Maybe as a reader of the post you sent, I'd like to share that while her experiences are unjust and undeserved, they are not unusual. It's just that they are not spoken about in the open.

Please let her know that if she CAN make it through the pain and scary moments, she will find trusted mentors out there (and we cyber readers obviously send our support too). As for abuse fading into normality, it's a totally normal response someone has when they are exposed to ongoing and intense physical violations. Could be that there is a part of her that's turned off as a survival mechanism. And she is a survivor, of which she should be congratulated regularly for making that choice. IT's a hard one and she's gotta lot of guts. Keep going darlin' - you don't know how much your survival inspires others.

Rainbow

hang in there sweetie! I am 32 and have been through very rough situations myself including hurricane Katrina. I am on the road as we speak trying to find a home... I wish you the best of luck!

Wow Melissa, what strength and determination you have. Good on you for thinking through a plan that will work for you. All the best x

Wow, It's hard to hear that something like that actually happened to someone. I'm only 14 but I have a friend that's around my age that that happened too!! I don't understand what you are going through but I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your life and I hope everything works out for you!! You seem like a wonderful person!!!...You deserve more than anyone else!!

iam homeless have been for and long time now
do i like it out here no i do not
i will tell anybody that wants to be homeless
come on out it is no fun to be homeless at all?
thank you
marion

A warm Welcome to the forums, Marion. :)

Looking forward to getting to know you. :cool:

Melissa, you are valuable. You are worth more than you wil ever know or realize right now. I have been in similar circumstances, though it was quite some time ago. Feels almost as if it were someone else now.
I am here to tell you, do not give up. Be encouraged.
There is hope. One day, you will look back and see how strong all this has made you, and how your experiences can help someone else to have hope too.
You are loved, for who you are, even if it may not feel that way right now. Love is very powerful., and healing. Love yourself, my sister of the heart.

Dear Melissa,

I would just like to say that what is happening to you is one of the most disgusting and horrific things that i have ever heard!
Good on you for getting out. I truly hope that you believe that there really are better things out there as well as MUCH nicer people who will actually respect you for who you are. You deserve this, no matter what you think.

Good luck and never give up xoxo

Hang in there fellow sister. No one deserves to be threatened or violated, i know this all too well. Never give up darling. You can do it, whatever decision you make. I am living example as are so many. Believe and you will fly. Much love
Amali

To melissa,

life is a roller coaster ride, filled with ups and downs, after the downs you're going through...just stick by and the ups will follow...

goodluck and hope you stay strong.

You know Mellisa I was thinking to myself what could I really say to you? I mean really say? I wanted to tell you that I have a wonderful life though I was abused all of it until 10 years ago. I was hung by my own father as a small girl. I was left in the streets to fend for my self as a teenager. I slept with some fellas to have a place to sleep. I ended up with a bike gang member that was most severely abusive toward me. I left him after being held at gun point. I hid in an abuse shelter for a while. I want you to know something. I made a decision then that it was the first step up and not the last step down. I gave my heart to Jesus Christ around then. I actually came our from there without even having managed to obtain even a drivers licence. That was my first goal. I got a drivers licence at 28 years old. I went and upgraded then. I returned to college and I worked through corrospondence as well as hard as I could work I worked on studying day and night. I became a Paralegal. I in fact eventually taught the courses I studied in college. I met a business man who I am now married too! He is the most gentlest of men you could ever meet. Never gets angry never swears nothing. Sounds like a fairy tale? It's not it is the truth. I also have 3 young girls that I am currently staying at home with though the stress had left such a tole on me I was said to never beable to have children. I had them each. My point is not that your life should turn out like mine. My point is that it can turn out like yours would be in your dreams. I want you to know mine turned out because I am no ordinary woman. I also want you to know that no one is ordinary. We all have something on the inside of us that drives us to hope. Hope that we give up in prayer and then we take action on has the power to bring us to a place no one ever would have thought possible for us. I went from a typical victim without ever having passed go in any area of my life to where I am today. I also drive a newer vehicle and live in a beautiful home and have wonderful friends. Though what matters to me the most is loving someone like you. I can't wait till you come out of where you are because I noticed that when people like you or I sucseed we always go back and care about someone else and that is what makes you special. I have joy in my heart conserning you and I believe that is because God does too. I want anyone else who is reading this besides Mellisa to know the same goes for you. YOU CAN MAKE IT, YOU REALLY CAN. p.s I am also an ex drug user and alcoholic!

Hi Melissa,
Courage, more courage and strength your way! May I ask how you are going with your plan? If you are able, please let us know.
Aim xox

Hi Melissa,
I read your story and congratulate you on forming your escape plan. Noone deserves to be treated the way these men have treated you, and you deserve much better in life. Remember that you ARE worthwhile and deserving of everything good in life, just like other people do. Hold your head high and carry out your plan and be safe. I feel proud just hearing that you've decided to take charge and make change. You're a brave woman.

Maria

wen i was 12 my mum kicked me out of home because i was being bad and i was living in a tent in the bush for 2 weeks it was very cold, then this girl found me and she took me to her house and fed me and looked after me.

i have been staying at her friends houses and hanging out with them, they made me steal and made me do drugs and have sex with them and i ran away to my step sisters house and she is very poor but shes looking after me. i havent spoken or seen my mum for 2 years and i hope she hasnt forgotten about me, i wish everyday to see her so i can apoligise but i think its too late.

but i hope that milissa is doing ok and all the best for the rest of her life. i hope she is happy and going to school and getting and education for her future. stay strong. thank you xoxo

This is to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas. Melissa a very Merry Christmas to you. I am a student and have never had the challenges you've had in your life. So I have no clue what its like to walk in your shoe. I will say I *moderated* and everyone else to find the courage, confidence, and hope of a brighter tommorrow. Wishing you next year is a road to your new beginning. Only you hold the key to change your future.

Good Luck,

JDH