To Save A Life: The Quest to Rescue Charles Manly

 I'm honored to have guest blogger and friend, Jennifer Manly, share a bit about her quest to save her son, Charles.

Please feel free to repost and share in any way you may want to!
~Rebecca

Hope, grace, love, restoration....So many things go into these powerful words. I am truly honored to be able to share my story of restoration and hope with you- Jennifer Manly

I am Jen, former Army brat, and eldest of three and now a 31 year old mother of five, living here in our beautiful Colorado. I've always been a  free spirit with a zest for life which evolved into being a "wild child" in my early preteen years. After some very traumatic circumstances, I fell into a deep depression which landed me in "the system." I was in and out of group homes, hospitals, and "therapeutic" foster homes. Shortly after returning home at 15 I ran away which lead me down a true path of destruction. I found myself hitch-hiking around Texas and Mexico with a man ten years older than me who was an alcoholic with a horrible addiction to crack.  I found myself broken, alone, homeless, and pregnant at seventeen.

Might I say, it was not my best year...

Twenty weeks into my pregnancy reality sunk-in; I was going to be a mother. I called my parents for help and moved to Leavenworth, Kansas. Despite all my greatest efforts to pull a life together for my son: getting my GED, working two jobs, and attending college, his father was still in my life. 

To the devastation of my son, I allowed his father to watch him while I was in school and working. It was not until I came home to an empty house and had to retrieve my five month old son from a local crack house (mind you, I did not have a car and walked around for hours trying to find my child in the dark) that I realized again something had to change.

I joined the Air Force when my son, Joshua was 9 months old and he went to live with my parents until we were reunited in Great Falls, Montana when he was 18 months old. Life was a continual up-hill battle. My son had a difficult time adapting and I stumbled often. Only the healing power of Christ could restore my broken life.

Now, I am on a new journey. My son, now Charles Joshua, after being adopted by my husband, has been diagnosis with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and sever ADHD. After years of therapy, nutrition changes... you name it, he was recommended by multiple psychologists and psychiatrist to be placed in a residential hospital for the safety of our family. Having been a  child of the system I know this is not the answer. Countless hours of prayer and many tears later, God has opened a door for healing through a ministry that loves and speaks life into teens like, Charles. Shepherd's Hill Academy is our answer to prayer. The hurdle is the tuition that is over $50,000 annually. 

Again, after more prayer, I felt God speak to my heart saying, "This is nothing in comparison to how big I am.  I love your son and desire his heart even more then you."

Hard to even imagine!...

We took a leap of faith and began selling things and cashed in our small 401K. Then we  prayed more. God has been moving in the hearts of others in mighty ways. We now have raised over $12,000!! We have had several yard sales that have brought in a $1,000 at a time, and a Range Rover was donated to our family (which is presently for sale). Chic-Fil-A even allowed us to host a fund raiser. Miracles have begun to happen!! Through, hearts like yours God has continually showed His out-stretched arms. He has shown us His hope, His grace, His love,and His desire for restoration in my sweet boy. 

~Jennifer Manly

Here are a few things we are doing to support the Manly family. Our goal is total restoration ... and nothing else.

~ Rebecca

• Visit: www.gofundme.com/charlesmanly to hear more about Charles Manly or to give.
• Colorado Springs friends: Come to Souper Salad on Friday, June 17th from 5-8 pm for a fund raising dinner
• Colorado Springs friends: Visit Freedom Chiropractic on June 27 from 9-11 am or 3-6 pm for a Community Outreach Day.For $25 you receive: A full medical history, thermography scan, orthopedic evaluation, and then a followup with the doctor to go over findings and recommendations. (a $300+ value).The entire amount will be designated for the Manlys'. Call 719-533-0303 to hear more.
• Colorado Friends: Join us for the run4youth 5k walk/run on October 1 @ 9am
• Donate to and Shop @ The Manly's Yard Sale @ 8933 Bellcove Circle, 80920 this Fri and Sat, June 10 &11 from 8am- 2pm
• And Of course: Pray! Pray! Pray!