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TWSC Series
Meet JournHE to the AltHER Participant Jasmaine!
One of the most significant lessons Jasmaine has taken from the program is learning how to treat herself.
Rediscovering Herself: Ayana’s Journey of Faith, Healing, and Preparing for Love
After years of believing marriage was not for her, Ayana Miller set out on a path that would challenge her understanding of love, identity, and the plans God has for her.
TWSC Series: Learning to Stand Tall - Meet JournHE to the AltHER Participant Serena Miller
“God makes all things beautiful in His time. Our timing is not God's timing, but God's timing is never late.” – Serena Miller
TWSC Series: JournHE to the AltHER - Meet Blossom Parkinson
Read about Blossom's journey to the altar that is still unfolding, and how her relationship with herself has changed.
TWSC Series: Getting to Know Cindel Pluviose - The Woman Behind JournHE to the AltHER
Keep reading to learn some interesting facts about Cindel Pluviose, the woman behind JournHE to the AltHER.
TWSC Series: From Her Journey to the Altar to Helping Other Women Find Their Way
Discover how Cindel Pluviose turned her journey of faith, healing, marriage, and personal growth into JournHE to the AltHER, a mentorship for women.
4 Lessons Life is Teaching Me About Friendships
Overcoming broken trust, I found freedom in redefining friendship. Here’s what I’ve learned about healing, boundaries, and connection.
How Trauma May Be Affecting Your Relationships
Is past trauma preventing you from forming healthy relationships? Here's how you can show up in relationships while honouring your healing journey.
This Part of Your Story Matters
Does God seem silent when you're hurting? Find out how you can keep the faith and still praise Him in the midst of your storm.
God’s Ways are Not Our Ways
I would read Matthew 6:33 half-heartedly. I was afraid that God would fail me. I saw my mother work hard in serving God and in her business, but we still went without food sometimes, missed out on rent and were sent home for lack of school fees.
Essential Considerations for Your Therapy Journey
First, you need to identify your pain. Are you experiencing mental or emotional turmoil that’s inhibiting your daily functions for more than a week?
Trusting the Therapeutic Process Even When It Feels Uncertain
“Healing from trauma can sometimes feel like you are always playing catch-up in life. Slow down, don’t rush, and trust the process.”
To Love is to Accept Care
Living with a chronic illness is teaching me that a self-reliant mindset can be dangerous. We need people; we’re wired for connection, and it’s okay to receive help.
Embracing Healing: A Personal Journey Through Therapy
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." - Carl Jung
Broken But Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series - Understand that Life is Unfair, but be Fair Anyway
Life has a way of dealing us cards that seem profoundly unfair. For some of us, those cards include the heavy burden of childhood sexual trauma, an experience that leaves scars that run deep. But did you know that in the face of life's unfairness, we have a choice—to let our wounds define us or to rise above them?
Broken But Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series -Embrace God’s Freedom
God does not want us to labor for love. He loves us for who we are, His children. Unless I embrace His offer of love and grace, I’ll live my life laboring and begging for crumbs yet my Father owns the bakery.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - Growing up an Orphan
The other day l was giving out a lecture to my son on how blessed he is for having two parents living together because l never had that. I insist that he be grateful and thank God for that beautiful blessing, we might not have much or be able to provide him with everything that he needs at the moment but nonetheless, he should look around him and be thoughtful of others without
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - What's in your Hand
August is my birthday month. It's times like these that really get me thinking about how far I have come and how much I have grown, not only physically but mentally, socially and spiritually.
Speak Out with Caroline: Single Motherhood & I
My journey into motherhood began at the age of 25. I must admit that it was quite a confusing and difficult time, considering that I was unmarried, a church girl and in the choir.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Dear Survivor
I’m sorry for what happened to you. It hurts, I can see. I see your desire to change your past. I can hear you asking, ‘Why?’ I see how exhausting it is to show up every day in masks that don’t fit you anymore. I see how fleeting control is to you. I see your lips moving, but I can’t hear your voice. Want a hug? Some water maybe? A walk in the park? I see your pain, dear surviv
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Choosing Faith over Fear
I’m in the middle of a crisis as I write this. I was so tense a while ago I couldn’t eat. This feeling is so familiar. I want to quit, I just want to sit in a corner alone, with my eyes closed. I had a chat with my mom a while ago and what she shared threw me off balance. I didn’t anticipate any disruptions today. I had my day planned out, avoided some conversations to stay foc
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Learning to Appreciate my Body
I was supposed to write this in December. I even had an outline. But when I sat down to type out the words, my mind went blank. It was unbelievable. Where did the psych go? I lost it. My inner person was quiet and numb.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Overcoming Fear
I grew up being fearful of men around me. It’s a fear that was imprinted in me after multiple childhood sexual violations. I was never fearful of my male friends though. But this changed after being assaulted sexually in a relationship. I would panic every time a man would stand next to me even for a second. I avoided busy streets and bus stops for fear of being touched inappro
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - Love
As I was walking past a shop window in town, I was reminded that we are in the month of love. Red outfits, red roses, red wine – everything red!
Broken But Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series - Verify Your Thoughts
I first knew that I had control over my thoughts in 2012. I had an unhealthy mindset, and this bothered me a lot. I wanted to change, but I didn’t know how to. I was tired of the heavy weight that I felt on my chest every day. My moods would get triggered so easily. It was annoying.
Broken but Beautiful: Forgiveness Series - Grant Pardon
Pardon is a ticket or an official document given to a convict to release them from further punishment. Pardon is offered to those who accept responsibility for their crimes and have reformed characters. Convicts who receive pardon are restored to society and are allowed to enjoy the rights of citizenship in their country.
Speak Out with Caroline: Embracing the New
Change isn’t always easy. Many times though, it is inevitable and eventually works out for our good. Change could also come about as a result of choices we intentionally make. Choices that we will later look back on and be grateful for taking the bold step towards the freedom we have been searching for – knowingly or unknowingly.
Broken but Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series - We Own Our Scars; They Don't Own Us
Scars don’t bleed, they tell a story.
Broken but Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series -Follow the Light You Have Received
In the previous article, we discovered that God is interested in reconciling with us and that we can come to Him just as we are. The next layer in forgiveness is not staying the way you are. It’s choosing to practise the truth you know in spite of how you were violated.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - This is Why you Should Always Celebrate your Birthday
(Enter Mary and Phil, a couple living with their 5 sons, a few chickens, a fluffy Cat, 2 Manchester Terrier dogs and a well kept garden. Mary is in her mid-thirties and Phil in his mid 40s.)
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Find Time to Meet God Daily
Abuse robs us off the ability to build a meaningful relationship with God. It’s hard to see how a loving God would permit any of His children to be abused. I personally grew up with an avoidant attachment towards God. I prayed with my lips, but my heart was numb. I felt obliged to follow religious practices, I feared burning in hell, so I managed to pull an ‘ideal Christian lif
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - My Growth
Personal growth to me means understanding who you are and what you are all about; taking small steps towards becoming the best version of yourself physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and even socially.
Broken but Beautiful: The Forgiveness Series - Pt. 1
In Part 1 of The Forgiveness Series, Faith Gor uses a powerful illustration to demonstrate how unpleasant yet necessary forgiveness is to our healing journey.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - The F-word
This is not your usual F-word, perhaps it is. The thought of it gives me chills and emotional instability sometimes. It’s the word that many of us avoid because it demands us to walk on unpleasant paths we’d prefer not to travel on. Truth is, though it leads to peace and freedom, it is a painful process. Forgiveness is what I’m talking about.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - A Different Kind of Grief
When I was told that the month of October was going to focus on grief, it gave me a lot to think about as one who has lost loved ones as well as other things.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - It was Rape, Actually
Today’s topic is one that is difficult to wrap one’s head around but is sadly happening every single day. Sexual assault is often perceived as a straight issue: men raping women. Woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault globally remains unaddressed. How does a woman rape another woman? Or simply put, how does a woman rape?
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor -Grieving Over a Lost Childhood
In my pictorial archives, there are two pictures that remind me of a time I would rather forget. Each time I look at them, I just want to reach out and wrap my arms around that little girl and tell her everything will be alright. I grieve for the little girl I see in the photos. I go back to that time and shiver.
Meet TWSC Editor Rumbidzai Musvosvi!
The month of August is Contributor Appreciation Month here at TWSC! So throughout the month, you'll be getting to know the special women who make all our content possible. First up is our editor Rumbidzai Musvosvi!
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Press On!
A few years ago, I was not comfortable with the passage recorded in the Bible about the woman who had a gynecological condition that afflicted her for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34). This is because dysmenorrhea had fed me the bitter side of life. One day, when I was in pain, some lady commented sarcastically that I should “just touch the hem of His garment.”
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Grief
As survivors of child sexual abuse and assault, we have a lot to grieve for. We grieve the violation, loss of power, loss of relationships, loss of trust, sense of peace, dreams for the relationship, investments in the lost relationships, lost love. We grieve who we were before the offense, opportunity lost while healing, our control, boundaries violated, mental illness, time,
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - The Danger of Unresolved Trauma
If you have experienced what I have been through, you find that it’s so easy to lose yourself. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of life. It’s easy to just become a piece of debris floating aimlessly along life. In that kind of state, one can find themselves attracting more abuse and pain. For example, because of my childhood sexual violation, I had rampant sexual experiences in
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Why I Didn't Tell
When I first opened up to my parent about my story of childhood sexual abuse, my enraged parent asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?” And the inner child replied in my heart, “That’s exactly why I didn’t tell.”Many times, when a survivor tells of the abuse they experienced, people ask, ‘Why didn’t you report immediately? Why are you bringing it up after all these years? Why don’t yo
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Dear Sex Offender
Are you alive or dead? I choose to imagine that you are alive because that’s what I feel on most days. I gave up on hoping that one day you’ll come to apologize for robbing me of my sexual innocence, dignity, peace, trust, hope, pure imagination, and sense of safety. I lived believing that my well-being was pegged on your apology, but no, it’s not. I craved your apology daily t
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Making Peace With God
Where is God when we are violated sexually? Where is He when children are abused sexually? Where was He when I was molested? These were questions I asked myself for a long time, but I never got answered. When people would attempt to answer me, I would end up resenting them, and I would withdraw from God even more.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - It Was Never About Me
Many of my childhood memories are painful reminders of what I have had to endure. As others would lovingly reminisce on their blissful childhoods, I would often be stuck between a rock and a hard place about whether to lie and recount sunshine and ice cream or tell the truth.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - No, You Are Not Alone
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Healing is in the Process; it's Not a Destination
Naaman had to get into the dirty river for himself, by himself. Healing is an inside job. It’s an opportunity to get in tune with your soul, which then deepens the connection with your Creator. This is true because when Naaman came out of the water, he was completely healed, grateful and chose to praise the living God of Israel, that is God the Creator.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - The Circle of Women
Throughout my life, I have had quite a number of mother figures. They’re a strong breed of women who have instilled in me the value of prayer, faith and persistence. In spite of that, the desire to hear what advice my mum would give me for every transitional phase of my life still lingers every day.
Broken but Beautiful: Separation
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Joseph recorded in the book of Genesis chapters 37-50. It’s a painful story that has a beautiful ending. Joseph’s mother died when he was still young. His father loved him more than his siblings and this made his brothers despise him to the extent of ganging up against him, mocking him for his extraordinary dreams, strippi
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - Shame
Footprints of a Survivor is a weekly column written by Kim Mukwa, a survivor of childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Each week, she reveals the layers of pain she lived through, the damage it caused and the steps she is taking to heal emotionally.
Broken but Beautiful: Denial
“Broken but Beautiful” is a weekly column by Faith Gor, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She shares her story and healing journey to offer hope to other survivors.
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - The Motherless Daughter
For me, this has been my life. Like I said before, my mother left me as a baby but would often visit. Although I do not remember much of it, I do remember sitting on her lap, being fed by her, and it was my throne. I also recall a time when she brought me a little purse filled with coins as well as a green petticoat. I was between 5 and 6 years old, so you can understand why I
Broken but Beautiful: It's Not Just a Running Stomach
I love singing. I always thank God for my musical ear and the ability to enjoy music deeply. Unfortunately, I do not play any musical instrument, but I shall learn how to play one someday soon. I enjoy listening to well-blended vocals, and I particularly get an inexpressible feeling for minor harmonies, especially when the vocals are deep and rich! Blame it on endorphins and ox
TWSC Series: Footprints of a Survivor - An Introduction to Kim Mukwa
I am Kim Mukwa, born in 1988. I am a mother and wife and also a survivor of childhood physical, sexual and emotional trauma. My story is one of pain, horror, disbelief and a thousand questions without answers. And so, I really try to go through life the best way I know how, and that is to seek a place of healing and understanding. Basically, I’m taking it one day at a time, rid
Broken but Beautiful: Seeking Therapy
A friend sent me a message a week ago and asked, “When did you realise that you needed therapy?” Usually I would go ahead and give a detailed answer, but this time I chose to be curious. I asked her, “What therapy?” Maybe she meant hydrotherapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, art therapy or light therapy. I didn’t want to make conclusions.
Broken but Beautiful: Don’t Give up on Healing, Help Will Come – Pt. 2
I learnt how to live with my dark secret until I was 19. I attended a youth conference organized by the church and I hoped to find GOD. The theme for that conference was based on the life of Joseph. The sessions were enriching but I would zone out and doze off through most of the sessions because a lot didn’t make sense then, but I liked the prayer sessions.
Broken but Beautiful: Don’t Give up on Healing, Help Will Come - Pt. 1
Growing up, I preferred being in two spaces: anywhere with my brothers or in school, particularly in class with my classmates because it felt safe. One afternoon we were called out to go for a girls-only session. I was eleven then and this was my first time attending such a session. I’m grateful we had the privilege of having talks on puberty, hygiene and how to relate with oth
Broken but Beautiful: Embracing the Scars
I was privileged to attend a youth empowerment program organised by the government, equipping the youth with life and business skills. This program ran for two weeks and in one afternoon, the facilitator walked in with three items wrapped like gifts.
Broken but Beautiful: Struggling with the Desire to Seek Revenge
My mother woke me up from an afternoon nap and after attending to her, I got enraged. I couldn’t understand why. I felt as though a heavy rock was laid on my chest. I could feel my heart’s palpitations and I started hyperventilating. I got flashbacks of painful memories, and I felt vengeful. My soul cried for justice.
Speak Out with Caroline: Denial- The Ugly Face of Addiction
Caroline Kagia is a certified addictions professional and recovering alcoholic. Speak Out with Caroline is a column dedicated to addiction and recovery from substance abuse and/or other forms of addiction. Read about Caroline's story here.
TWSC Series: Broken but Beautiful - Choose to be a Woman
For a long time, I never had any interest in celebrating International Women’s Day. It made no sense to me. I saw nothing worthy of celebration in me. This day brought more blues than pink moments to me. It reminded me of my inadequacy, my weaknesses, and how much I detest being a woman.
Speak Out with Caroline...Unscripted
My relationship with my dad was fantastic and continues to be to this day. My mother and I, though, were not ‘bosom buddies.’ For years on end, I always felt that she was too harsh, too critical of me. I feel she rejected me. My self-esteem was at an all-time low in my childhood. This followed me into the crucial teen years. The fact that I could not get any positive vibes or c
TWSC Diaries: Learning to Love My Body – How My Emotional Weight Affected My Physical Weight
I have been a victim of violations so many times over. At 7 or 8 years old, I was molested by my uncles. And as an adult I was getting raped three times. It's had a very bad effect on me. I grew up thinking that I wasn't beautiful. I had this big body and the people I stayed with were not helping because they used to make remarks about my body. It was hard, it was painful, and
The Perils of a Novice Gardener
I recently started a few gardening projects. I had been toying with the idea of getting into gardening for about a year and got a bunch of videos to help get me started. Before then, I had never really grown anything beyond herbs in a pot.
TWSC Diaries: Forgiveness is the Best Decision I Made for Myself
This column documents Celine Njoki’s healing journey. If you haven’t read her story, we encourage you read it here. Her story is remarkable. You can also read the previous entries she has made to this column.
Celine’s Journey: How I Stopped Feeding the Monster
https://theweightshecarries.com/in-depth-story-surviving-a-life-filled-with-tragedy/
TWSC Series: The Day My Village Was Burned Down – The Survival of an Internally Displaced Person - Part 2
While in that house, there was still shooting going on outside, so we were all on the floor. We were there for over 30 minutes.
TWSC Series: The Day My Village Was Burned Down – The Survival of an Internally Displaced Person
One fateful day, the inhabitants of Kwa-Kwa village were under a serious attack as the military forces attacked the village and were destroying and burning people's houses.