Lugar Cottage

“I didn’t know what I needed,” Nikki admits. The safety of her temporary home was about to end. She needed help, but didn’t know where to turn or who to ask.

She never knew what her mom did for a living, until her state’s social workers came to remove her from their home. During the termination of parental rights hearing, she was shocked to learn her mother was a member of what some call the “oldest profession on the earth.” That explained the constant appearance of strange men at that mobile home during all hours of both day and night.

Where would she go? Who would help?

The state’s temporary shelter was overcrowded and her time was up. Nikki’s options didn’t look good until her caseworker told her about Mount Dora Children’s Home. What made that choice more exciting was the possibility of reuniting with her brother. He was already living there. She remembered reading letters from her brother about the kindness his houseparents showed him.

Things went smoothly when she first arrived on campus. Then everything changed as someone found out about Nikki’s mom. She became angry and defiant over the hurt inflicted by a careless comment. Through the patience and support of her houseparents, Nikki learned to deal with the pain and embarrassment.

Today, she knows there is nothing that will stop her houseparents from loving her. She has learned that, regardless of her mom or her past, God loves her too. “My housemom has stuck with me through everything. She didn’t push me away, in fact she holds me and lets me cry when I’m sad,” Nikki reflects.

Nikki has a bright future filled with wonderful possibilities because she is growing physically, spiritually and emotionally in a place she knows is safe and loving.

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