When I first met Kristina in Remann Hall in July of 2018, she was in a suicide vest (a garment designed to prevent a person from using their clothes to commit suicide) and had been arrested the night before. Seventeen at the time, charged with murder, Kristina had been hanging with the wrong crowd and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was scared and heartbroken. Her boyfriend was one of two people who died the night of the incident. She was traumatized. 

I will never forget sitting down with her and hearing her heart. She cried for the entire hour and a half.  I felt so honored she had felt safe with me even though we had just met. I had no idea if she knew Jesus or had any sort of religious background. All I felt called to do was ask her if I could pray for her and you could see her eyes light up just a little bit. Oh, she knew Jesus.

The next week when I saw Kristina she was out of the suicide vest! Understandably, she was still emotional and there were lots of tears in our conversations. We continued to pray for her in Remann Hall.

Within a few weeks, every time we came in she WAS READY with her Bible. It pushed us to be prepared, go through chapters, and talk about them with her. She would invite other girls in and she would preach to them about The Lord’s will, how He may have them in there to protect them, how He allows things to happen that steers our path back to Him. She told them they needed to turn from their sin and needed Jesus. 

She was so bold. This girl preached to us and our hearts weekly. Kristina was having bible studies with other gals when we weren’t even there. She had such a peace about her and said she knew the Lord had never left her side. That even if she went to jail for decades, He was trustworthy and He was good. She said it all the time. Her faith grew mine.

That December she turned 18, meaning she had to leave Remann Hall and would stay in the county jail until her trial was over and there was sentencing. We kept track of her court dates and would show up to find it had been moved without notice. Things seemed hopeless. It was hard in the waiting. 

By God’s grace, Kristina was out on an ankle monitor late December and only in the county jail for a couple of weeks. County is not a friendly place, but we were able to see her and learned that while there she had been leading bible studies. She was going to church. She had prayed salvation with someone inside the jail and they were saved. All in just a few weeks!

I had my second son right before she was released on an ankle monitor and we lost a bit of contact, chatting back and forth and checking in as we could. It was the following August (2019) when I got a text from her that ALL charges against her were dropped. Kristina was free to go. It was nothing short of a miracle. It wasn’t an easy year, but she saw the good that the Lord used it for.

Since then, we’ve tried to check in as we can. Kristina has gotten a job and is working, going to school, and making the most of her second chance. 

It had been a couple of months since I’d heard from Kristina and then she reached out over Facebook messenger with a picture of her cap and gown and diploma holder! She and her twin sister were graduating — a milestone that seemed impossible just a year ago. She asked me to join in to watch the virtual ceremony on June 13th. I am so proud of her and so humbled she asked.

There has never been a graduation season that looks like this one. Kids all across Pierce County have fought hard for their diplomas and YFC leaders are proud to celebrate with them however we can.