Dear Mickey & Stacy,
Thank you so sooo much to give me the privilege to read Stepping Stones To Freedom. My name is Cassie and I am 22 years old. My story is very similar to Mickey's but my family wasn't like me. They were all semi-wealthy successful Godly people. I was a hoodlum and a very rebellious one at that. It started around the time I was in elementary school and got worse as I went into middle school and high school. I was on probation at 17 going on 18 but it didn't go on my record since the charge got put on me as a minor. I have two class E misdemeanors now, one for criminal trespassing and another for theft below 50. I have always been a good kid, a suck up, and a people pleaser. But I have mental disabilities as well. Schizophrenia and a personality disorder. It's a difficult situation and makes it hard to stay on the right path. I didn't use to like the life of living by the rules, I wanted the adrenaline. I started dabbling in meth and heroin (but I have never shot up any drug in my life). I stole from my parents and lied so much. I hurt people and hurt my family. My husband was atheist and I was Christian based but living the life of a druggy, taking things that weren't mine and bumming. All my life I've dealt with depression and self harm so extreme I'd have to have many stitches, I felt alone but I prayed often. I just didn't work for me. I used to think if I ask I'll get, but that isn't how it worked. I never changed my behavior nor listened to my conscience even though I knew what I was doing was wrong. I lost my mind, I lost my family, and I lost every single thing good inside me. We both decided to get clean on our free will 5 months ago, completely cold turkey. We don't have the urge for it and it makes us absolutely sick to even think about it. But even sober I was still struggling with some other stuff and had the wrong people remaining in my life. A few weeks ago I had got arrested for a capias (skipping court) and it was my first time in big girl jail. I was not expecting it to be as awful as it was. I was confined in a small room for 4 days with people I didn't know, people that were high on drugs, drunk, charged with attempted murder, assault, child abuse, etc... I did not fit in with those people whatsoever. I was raised with manners, respect, and loyalty but too caught up in this messed up world to remember that. I was transferred to the minimum security jail, that is where I found your book. Keep in mind that I have never read a book before in my life let alone finish one. I cannot read it is VERY hard for me and not to mention my attention span is worse than a chicken. As soon as I picked that book up, it only took me a day and a half to complete it. I know for a solid fact that God used that book to speak to me. It related to me in so many ways, even the part about waiting on the magistrate to give me pretrial to let me go. (I actually picked up that book to try to pass the time while I was waiting) I got so into that book, I didn't eat, I barely slept, and to be honest I got kinda annoyed and impatient when someone tried to get my attention. I felt like I was drawn to thank book and something inside me changed after reading it. A day or two later I was released. It was as if I was drawn to that book, sentence after sentence and page after page it helped me gain my spirit back that I had lost all that time ago. I'm going to church every Sunday and even clean it up for them. My husband slowly converted over the years and can now say he's a child of God. My family can see the light in my eyes again and I'm back to my pure hearted down to earth self. I'm in a better place with nontoxic people around me. I got over my depression and found my motivation to keep moving forward. My life has taken a turn for the better and I am truly happy now thanks to you and your testimony. You both are an inspiration to me and always will be. You saved me at a young age and I am so mighty thankful from the bottom of my heart that I was able to read that book. I cannot thank you enough! I made sure to memorize the ministry email because I HAD to thank the people who changed my life. I have no luck when it comes to remembering anything so I know there was a reason I was able to. I feel holy again. I feel good. I know this is what you wanted to accomplish, telling your story to help others be saved, and you did more than that for me. I hope you come across this email and get to know how much of a blessing you both are and how you have impacted my life to the fullest. I don't expect you to respond, I'd say you're always busy with your own lives and the ministry. I just wanted you to know how much appreciation I have towards you. I thank you and I know God thanks you for straightening up his disobedient child. Have a good night and GOD BLESS!!
Sincerely, Cassie