Melissa - House 2
Melissa was born February 11, 1996 and has been in and out of halfway houses ever since. Her mother had AIDS and drank often mixing alcohol with her AIDS treatment rendering it ineffective. She did not take care of her children and neglected and maltreated them frequently. Despite these conditions, Melissa loved her mother and was heartbroken when she died of complications with AIDS in 2004. After the death of her mother Melissa would cry uncontrollably to console herself. Their father visited them a few times and expressed some interest in taking the kids but is basically disinterested and is now out of the picture.
There are no other relatives who are available to take the kids in with the exception of a caring grandmother who maintained a limited interest in the lives of her grandchildren. She was the one who suggested the kids coming to Chain of Love so that they could stay together. Her husband is the superintendent of a building where they live and there is a limit in the number of people who can live in their apartment so bringing the children to live with her was not an option.
Melissa has had behavioral problems over the years running away numerous times from halfway houses. She is described as stubborn and difficult and has been seeing a psychologist on an ongoing basis. There is also a strong possibility that she was sexually abused some time in her childhood.
Despite her problems, Melissa seems to be adjusting well at Chain of Love she enjoys her family living with Cesar and Marli in House 9 and gets along well with the other girls her age on campus. She is quite ambitions. Her first day here she determined to fix up an old bike for her to ride all by herself. Pray that Melissa would overcome her troublesome past and stay at Chain of Love long enough to allow Jesus to Change her life. So far both of them are loving it here!
2008 Update: Melissa is twelve years old and is in grade six at school. At home she helps to hang out the laundry, make the dinner and clean the bedroom. She is persistent in all she does. When she has spare time she likes to watch television and sleep. She is active in Sunday School and the girls’ club, but it is too early to note her spiritual development because she has only recently arrived at the house.
Please pray that Melissa will come to know the Lord and grow in her knowledge of Him.
2009 Update: Melissa is showing respect towards her new house parents. She talks very loudly, can be explosive and needs to obey curfew more promptly. She prays that her grandmother will come and visit her again soon.
Birthdate: February 11, 1996
Brother: Anderson