You're Not Alone: The Journey from Abduction to Empowerment

ELIZABETH’S STORYBelieve it or not, you are a champion.We all face trials and challengesin life. Some are more difficult thanothers. You and I faced a very difficultone and you, like me, have triumphedover this trial. You have a new, anddifferent, life now—a new normal.This new life can be something good ifyou make it that way.My name is Elizabeth. Currently I am20 years old and a music performancemajor in college. I love to ride horseback and spend time with my family. Likeyou, I am also a survivor. The night before I was to graduate from junior high Iwas kidnapped from my bed at knifepoint. I was held captive for 9 months untilI was rescued. My life has never been the same since.Many aspects of my life have changed, as I’m sure yours has. Much about anexperience like ours can overwhelm us when we come home: the media, thenotoriety, the mixed emotions, our families, school—the list could go on forever.But even through these experiencesand the changes that result, it is“This is important toremember. You were foundbecause someone was lookingfor you! You were notthen, and you are not now,alone. You are here becausethere are people who carefor you. ”important to remember that justbecause something bad happenedto you, it doesn’t mean you arebad. You are still entitled to everypossible happiness in life.When I came home, I had no ideajust how big the search for me hadbeen. To this day, 5 years later,people still come up to me and tellme how much they searched forme and prayed for my safe return.28