A Peaceful Habitation | Prison Aftercare Ministry for Women | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Debra Valdez - First Graduate

My name is Debra and words cannot express my gratitude and love for all my Lord and Savior has done and is doing for me. It has been a life-changing experience for me, with God in control and under the care of A Peaceful Habitation.

Before coming to APH, my life was a mess and unmanageable. Anyone who knew me, and I myself knew that there was nothing left in me. God’s grace, mercy and love for me didn’t agree, and through Jesus Christ I have been saved. Before coming back into the world I resided at APH for seven months. I am truly thankful for APH. At APH I learned to how to live life all over again. It was quite an experience, but a good one. Through structure, discipline, classes and learning my Bible, I can now live a free and enjoyable life.

I have been clean for 2.5 years; I have maintained my job for two years; and I will be registering for school soon. I have a great home church and my mentors are the most dedicated. Today I have a lot of faith, hope and goals. With God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26. I have a new life in Christ; I have a purpose. I hope anyone that wants a better way of life will join us at APH. Most importantly, find Jesus and get to know Him.

Pamela Sifre, Testimony

I must admit I didn’t know it at the time but the Lord saved my life December 13, 2003, the day I got arrested. This was not only the beginning of my recovery from alcohol and meth but my walk with my Heavenly Father.

I’ve now been clean for 57 months. Praise God and I walk with the Lord in all I do. I know how to listen for the voice of the Lord and I know when I’m not feeling peace in my spirit. I need to take time out of the world and spend some time with God to hear what he has to say to me. So I can feel his peace again.

While I was locked up I spent as much time as possible reading my bible and going to church. When Leticia Chavez-Paulette came to the prison to tell us about APH I knew that this is exactly where I need to be. I graduated APH August 27, 2008 and the past 6 months have been one blessing after another. My foundation in God has been reinforced. I’ve met so many wonderful people here and have been to so many amazing functions. Everyday I woke up here was a blessing. Thank you APH for this opportunity.

Elaine Belue, Testimony

My name is Elaine Belue. I am 42 years old. I am a cancer patient. I have had a very hard life. Drugs and prison played a big part in my life. I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart on December 26, 2007. I was in prison at the time. I was finally tired of living that life of my past I didn’t have any strength left until I asked Jesus to come into my heart.

I have been clean now for almost 3 years. I am living at A Peaceful Habitation Program. I have been here 3 months. I never know that life could be so pleasing and peaceful. APH has given me the chance to learn and spend time with Christ Jesus. The Christian people that have been part of my life have been very encouraging and trusting to me. I have given now all my troubles to the Lord.

I am going through another bout with cancer, but I have at the same time peace & joy, and trust that everything is going to be okay. The people here at APH are the people God has chosen for my life and they are a blessing. The structure, the bible studies, the friendship and love all go together in one. It’s awesome. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Thank you Lord for giving this blessing

Sylvira Smith,Testimony

Thank you for asking me to sit down and write a brief testimony and how I feel about A.P.H. I feel Honored, I feel blessed and highly favored of our God. The Lord Jesus Christ has given me the ability to express the way I feel concerning my testimony and A Peaceful Habitation. A.P.H is a God ordained ministry, God centered Holy Ghost filled haven for those wishing to change their old behaviors and start a new beginning based on God’s basic life principles and not judging an individuals faith. The program is designed and structured for those needing an intimate relationship with our heavenly father, while providing love and care.

A Peaceful Habitation it’s mentors, along with it’s Executive Director, Leticia Chavez-Paulette have been an endless blessing to us all that have been fortunate enough to participate in this program. A.P.H is blessed and has some of the best mentors and God fearing people I have ever met. Each member is concerned is with instilling in us the bible values to succeed in things of God and the love that Christ represents. I highly recommend the program to anyone who sets ones heart to change their way of life and thinking.

So I acknowledge with a grateful heart A Peaceful Habitation, Leticia Chavez-Paulette and its mentors for believing in me, helping me, and giving me an opportunity at a new life. You have succeeded in showing me that I am a worthwhile person and that I deserve to live. I realize that God’s best still awaits me if I choose to stay strong on the straight and narrow. I thank God for all of you and for the love and support that you have demonstrated to me when I was at A.P.H; I will never forget you. So in closing I leave you with this scripture Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it”. ~ You’re Sister in Christ, Sylvira

Georgia Vigil, Testimony

Hello my name is Georgia Vigil; I am a 15 year heroin and crack cocaine addict. In 2005 I picked up charges for trafficking cocaine! I was sentenced to a 3 year prison term. While in prison I found the Lord and my life changed completely, good things started to happen to me, I got my self-esteem back , my self respect, and I looked at life in a different way. I got to see my twelve year old daughter for the first time in eleven years. I wanted more out of life than I have ever wanted before.

When Leticia came to the prison with a presentation about A Peaceful Habitation I was interested and determined to go. I wanted to further my walk with God while getting the help I needed to stay clean and sober. When I got my acceptance; letter it was one of the happiest days of my life!

I got to A.P.H in January 2008. Everyone was so wonderful and giving, I was provided with everything I needed, I learned so much being there. The way I feel about the program now is I regret ever leaving, I have always felt it was a beautiful, peaceful and wonderful place to be. I encourage other women that I talk to, to go there. I give out the address like it’s my own, If I could go back now I would be more than happy to! I miss it a lot. ~ God Bless You All. Georgia

Tiffany Romero, Testimony

Praise His name. I am a 26-year old mother of my beautiful 2-year old daughter, Chanel. I was saved in 2004 at Calvary Chapel, baptized and made new. The Lord is very special in my life and He has kept me close. Whenever I have strayed too far, He has allowed me to come back. I love Jesus Christ for all He has done for me. I have struggled with addiction for 14 years of my life. Because of Him I stayed clean and sober one week shy of two years, so I know that He is successful in my life. Because of A Peaceful Habitation and all who support it, God has given me the opportunity to live free.

I understand and believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13. I believe in prayer and wake up each day as a new woman for Him. APH has taught me how important my daily relationship with Jesus is in my recovery. I have learned to be accountable to all the people of support I have in my life because of APH. I have learned to love again, have hope, and accept help. I have learned to really live my life clean and sober. I am a better mother, daughter, granddaughter, friend, employee and sister in Christ. I ask for forgiveness and look to Him for guidance. He has saved us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption for the forgiveness of sins. So thank you Leticia and all that have loved me graciously.

My life was completely out of control, a never-ending downward spiral. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. It was my last trip to jail and I had no idea this time of how long I would be there. I opened a Bible and decided to attend the Bible study class. I continued to read and study the Bible while I was incarcerated and it was then that I turned my life over to the Lord. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. The Lord had a plan for me and it was called "A Peaceful Habitation". This program is a blessing in my life that will continue to help me stay in recovery long after I graduate. APH is giving me the structure, encouragement, and spiritual guidance I need to fulfill my God-given purpose in life.

Vanessa Kane, Testimony

I am so thankful to A Peaceful Habitation and especially, Leticia Chavez-Paulette for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to grow in a Christ-like environment. This program is responsible for giving me hope of a lifelong recovery that will work through Christ, Who is the only way. My background was one of confusion and chaos; full of misunderstanding, and lacking in guidance. God has delivered me from the life filled with alcohol and drugs that I used to numb my feelings and forget my pain. I praise God for His true Word and am so thankful for His forgiveness. Without Him I am nothing. I have been transformed by Him from the inside out and I have a life filled with hope today. My faith is solid. Thank you Jesus. Thank you APH.

Wynne Baca , Testimony

My life was completely out of control, a never-ending downward spiral. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. It was my last trip to jail and I had no idea this time of how long I would be there.

I opened a Bible and decided to attend the Bible study class. I continued to read and study the Bible while I was incarcerated and it was then that I turned my life over to the Lord. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

The Lord had a plan for me and it was called "A Peaceful Habitation". This program is a blessing in my life that will continue to help me stay in recovery long after I graduate. APH is giving me the structure, encouragement, and spiritual guidance I need to fulfill my God-given purpose in life. I thank my Heavenly Father for this program and the dedicated and awesome people who are APH.