Angelica

I was transformed on my very first ISP retreat.

Years ago, when I was homeless and fleeing a situation of domestic violence, I had only a mustard seed of faith to hold on to. In my search for something more, I met Christine at St. Francis House, who invited me on an ISP retreat. I didn’t know anything about ISP, so I was nervous, but I was also desperate for something to change. So I took a leap of faith–and that decision changed everything.

The retreat was held at Glastonbury Abbey, and from the moment I arrived, something started to shift. I had a room where I could shut the door and breathe. The house was peaceful, the food was incredible, and the grounds were breathtaking. But what truly melted my heart was the group of women I met. They were open, honest, and full of love — not the kind of love that judges or asks you to be perfect, but the kind that wraps around you like a blanket and says: You belong here.

For the first time, I found a group of women who accepted me exactly as I was .Before ISP, I didn’t feel welcome in church settings or Bible groups. My past experiences with addiction and homelessness made it hard to connect in traditional faith communities. It’s tough to share your darkest moments when you fear judgment or rejection. But at ISP, I found a safe space to lay it all down.

We shared painful stories of trauma and loss, but also of hope and survival. We cried together, laughed together, prayed together — and over time, we became family. What brought us together was our shared desire to get closer to God, to strengthen that spiritual connection in the way we each needed most. And the beauty of ISP is that no matter where you are on your journey, you are met with grace and acceptance.

That weekend sparked a fire in me that hasn’t gone out. I’m not sleeping outside anymore. I have a safe home and a job as a medical secretary–and it all started because I was given a safe place to share my story and hear God’s voice.  Since then, I have returned to witness on retreats, participate in weekly reflections, and am now training to be a retreat facilitator for the ISP Boston team. I was invited to take a step toward healing, and now I get to extend that same invitation to others.

ISP is a place where your story matters, your struggles are honored, and your healing is possible. We all have wounds, but together, we remind each other that God makes beauty from ashes. I’m living proof of that.