Stephanie - aka Sister Llama
Sister, as defined by one of the definitions in the Oxford Dictionary, is a woman or girl in relation to other daughters. And that is what Lacie and Stephanie discovered about each other in the early part of 1992. Unbeknownst to them, they were sisters - daughters from the same father. Most certainly, learning and wanting to be a sister is what they have both desired for a long time. Thirty years later, their relationship and connection have endured many life challenges, events, experiences, and miracles. Today, Stephanie - aka Sister Llama - helps behind the scenes and assists in making sure the “outside” operations for Vision of Hope DOC run smoothly.
Stephanie is grateful she and her sister are being used by God and experiencing many miracles along the way. Only God could have created something so beautiful.
Lacie Llama (L)
Sister Llama (R)
Learning to Be a Sister
When Stephanie made the effort to reunite with Lacie in July 2019, it had been after seventeen years of separation. It was at that time that Stephanie found herself learning about the false accusations that would keep her little sister, Lacie, locked up and away from her family, her children, and living a life of freedom “on the outside”. She was determined to figure out what she could do.
It was difficult to reconcile that her little sister, Lacie, was incarcerated of a crime she never committed. Through perseverance and armed with the faith that God can move mountains, Stephanie and her husband, Ken, joined the legal battle and injustices Lacie had already been fighting for many years. Even though Stephanie had no idea what to do, how to help, or at times, what to say, she was going to keep seeking the truth and trusting God for His plan and His purposes. She believed that eventually something good would come from it all because that is exactly what God promises those who love Him in Romans 8:26-29.
Then, on April 15, 2020, nine months after their reunion, while rebuilding their relationship, and at the beginning of the pandemic, Lacie and Stephanie began having significant health challenges. Lacie was experiencing new issues and symptoms arising from a recurring lung infection that had gone undetected. Stephanie learned that an invasive cancerous tumor had taken residence in her body and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The ordeal they both faced, together, would not only bring them closer to one another, it would also bring them closer to God. Much closer. They both began fighting a battle to survive the life threatening illnesses that had attacked them both at the same time. Phone calls between the sisters would often turn to prayer time together and they would offer encouragement to one another. Their bond grew even stronger and their faith increased even more.
Stephanie endured to win the battle with breast cancer. She realized it was not only for herself, she was fighting to be there for her little sister too. They provided hope to one another and their resilience did not waiver. In the process, they learned they were stronger together.
While helping Lacie from a distance, because family can only do so much when their loved one is incarcerated, Stephanie would battle a second round of breast cancer. It was more than she had bargained for and was now even more determined to not give up. Lacie had made it through her health crisis, surgery, and recovery. Lacie had miraculously conquered it all. Many of the girls Lacie lived with didn’t think she would make it. All of this gave Stephanie courage to stay the course and win her battle too!
In the beginning of 2022, as Stephanie - aka Sister Llama - was preparing for a third surgery in the breast cancer battle, Lacie, with the help of her friend Amber, was continuing a second year of “tithing” her money to get glasses for girls. It was at this time that the Lord began to put it on Stephanie’s heart to make Vision of Hope DOC a legitimate business. Ken, Stephanie’s husband, was the one to step up to the plate next and make it happen. All of this happened while Stephanie recovered from major surgery. It seemed to be the next step that needed to be taken in what had begun one year earlier. Vision of Hope DOC was official!
Everyone involved was becoming more aware that this was truly God’s idea. All of us that are involved are taking care of Vision of Hope DOC and making sure everything is done in a way that honors Him. It is what is important for all of us, most importantly, Lacie.
We all realize that these are the first steps in the process of bringing vision and hope to girls that are in need. We are eager to see and hear from the Lord about what is next. Through the many stories we hear from “the inside”, word has spread and many more girls are coming to Lacie asking for assistance in getting their eyeglass prescriptions managed. It indeed is a process.
Acts 20:35 (ESV) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
What could be better than giving sight? We believe that seeing has indeed been freeing for many of the girls. We also believe that there is much more in store for these girls and the future for Vision of Hope DOC is bright.