Hearts In Exile |
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Welcome to HEARTS IN EXILE, a site dedicated to all the veteran and new single Moms. "Hearts in Exile" was founded by Lisa Yvette Willis, a 40 year old, single mother of two.
Please feel free to visit often and to join our MSN Group
It began with a young girl's prayer. "God, We need a voice to show your heart for the unwed mothers." His answer. "Be my voice."
I didn't know where to start. I saw the "Grand Canyon" of the project. I didn't know if I could reach anyone. I just knew I had to try.
It has been a journey. An odessy. I began with a questionaire and a support group. I asked the group if they wanted to keep the group exclusive to single-unwed mothers. Most anwered yes. So for a few months I had my support group. Then my partner made it into a singles group, open to anyone. That was the end of my support group.
Not the end of my mission. I still needed to find a way to be a voice for the unwed mother. In 1994, I had a friend suggest I write a Newsletter/Magazine for Unwed Moms. The birth of Hearts In Exile began. I wrote a childrens section/ mothers section. The idea being that if moms were to be able to read about stories and other mothers, the children needed attention to.
I wrote a storyline for them; "Beemy Dino" and included scripture keys for kids. They had their connection to other children and we had our connection to each other.
The kinds of things I am looking for are stories of how you handle emergencies, what kinds of dreams your working toward, and supportive stories of survival. We need to be a light for that young woman who has just learned she's pregnant and alone. She needs to know that there is somewhere she can go to connect with other single-wed moms that 'have been there'.
I will never forget how frightening and overwhelming it was to stand in my best friends room and get the results from the clinic that said "Your Pregnant!" Her reaction was, "OH GOD, this is going to ruin your life." My reaction was stunned exceptance that my life as a single young woman was about to change. I didn't get to be a dumb teen anymore. I had to learn how to grow up over the next 8 months and be a mom. I knew everyone in my family would see it as one more screw up. I knew I had to face people with the evidence of my indescretion. There is no hiding a pregnancy. Your "sin" is there for all to see and pass judgment on you.
The worst to face was my Church. They were either insincere, or outright rejecting. I had to find my way alone to God's heart. All I found around me was people ashamed of me and felt somehow they were allowed to shun me.
With this magazine/newsletter and group That is no longer the case. They have a place to call home. God loves ALL of his children.
I feel he walks closely to those of us who need him to fill more voids in our lives. He came to heal the broken-hearted. To set the captives free. He loves you right were you are. He does not abandon his children.
Meet Lisa
