Lesego Mlangeni, founder of Ladies’ Dwelling Place, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, shares a testimony of how a whisper from God brought her comfort and calling

I was born into a home where love spoke louder than words. My parents were present, loving, and supportive. My mother, in particular, was a gentle force — kind, affirming, and unwavering in her belief in us. She championed my two younger siblings and me with everything she had.

That environment shaped me. I emerged as a helper, a giver, someone passionate about serving and making a difference. But as I grew, the world — external influences, harsh realities, and painful encounters– began to erode the pure core of what had shaped me. Unpleasant experiences struck at the very heart of my identity and worth. I found myself pouring into spaces that didn’t pour back. I would serve diligently — arriving early, doing more than asked, and carrying responsibilities with grace. Yet when it came time for recognition or meaningful opportunity, I was overlooked.

One specific instance still echoes in my heart. I had been serving in a particular ministry role faithfully. There was no doubt in my mind that I was making a difference. That’s what it thought. But one day, I arrived at an event prepared to serve, ready to occupy my role only to discover someone else had taken the role. No conversation, no prior notice — just silent replacement. I smiled and stayed composed, but once alone in my car, I wept. That moment pierced deep. It made me question everything: “Was I not enough? Was my loyalty invisible?” I felt rejected and worthless.

Then came an even deeper blow. I narrowly escaped a traumatic incident — an attempted assault. At a time when I needed safety, support, and belief, I was instead met with suspicion. I was falsely accused, my story questioned. Even when I presented the truth, I wasn’t truly heard. I felt violated all over again — not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. It was as though my voice was stolen. I began to shrink. The boldness I once carried vanished. I no longer believed my presence mattered. I began withdrawing from the spaces I once poured into.

Loss took many forms. People left — friends I trusted, partners I served with, confidants I leaned on. And often, they left without closure. Their departure left cracks in my heart. I struggled to open myself to new connections because I clung tightly to those who had walked away. I punished the new for the wounds of the old. I sabotaged good relationships because I was afraid of being hurt again.

I also became a people pleaser. I began finding value only in being needed. I stretched myself thin, overcompensating, believing that if I did more — gave more — I would finally be accepted. But every time I wasn’t chosen or acknowledged, it cut deeper. I thought my worth hinged on people’s opinions. I believed that being overlooked was a reflection of my inadequacy.

Then came a divine interruption. One night, in a place of deep exhaustion and despair, I heard the gentle whisper of God: “There’s purpose in your pain, daughter. It’s not wasted. It carries healing for others.” Those words undid me. I broke. But that breaking marked the beginning of healing.

God led me to Isaiah 50:4–5: “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” That Scripture felt like a divine commissioning. God was not just comforting me — He was calling me.

I began a journey of intentional healing. Later, I was led to spiritual guidance through Reverend Judith Modiba of Unveiled Ministry and found emotional restoration through Stillness Therapy with Pastor Shirley Mnisi. These women were sent by God to walk this journey of healing with me. God knew I needed a mentor who will also help me live a purposeful life, Grow and mature in the knowledge of God regardless of what I went through — Pastor Buhle Thela. Through their ministries, I received the nurturing and support I didn’t know I needed. However, the birth of Ladies’ Dwelling Place Ministry predates those encounters. It was conceived before I ever stepped into Unveiled Ministry or attended Stillness Therapy. God had already planted the seed long before I consciously began the journey of healing.

Ladies’ Dwelling Place was not birthed in celebration, but in the ashes of heartbreak. It wasn’t conceived from ambition, but from a divine burden to create a place of healing. God told me clearly: this ministry would be a sanctuary for weary women. A place where those who feel discarded would rediscover their worth. A place where brokenness would meet restoration, and where women would be reminded that they still have purpose.

Through mentorship, prophetic gatherings, and annual conferences, we’ve witnessed God do what only He can. Women have walked in with silent battles and walked out with restored voices. They’ve entered with shame and left with confidence. We’ve seen stories transformed and chains broken.

Our mission is clear:

• To help women see themselves as God sees them.
• To empower them to make life-giving, destiny-shaping decisions.
• To encourage them to serve God boldly.
• To restore broken hearts with the love of Christ.

We have watched God turn rejection into redirection. He has transformed private tears into public testimonies. And now, as we approach a decade of this sacred work, our theme is “The Posture of Gratitude.”

This is not just a celebration of time (10 years) -— it’s a Holy acknowledgment of what God has done. Every healing, every story, every breakthrough stands as proof that God wastes nothing. He takes what was meant to destroy and uses it to deliver. He turns pain into purpose.

This is my testimony: What once shattered me, God used to shape me. What once silenced me, God used to strengthen my voice. The wounds I carried became a sacred well—deep, life-giving, and overflowing with grace.

From that well, healing still flows: restoring the weary, refreshing the forgotten, reviving the broken. I am filled with awe and overwhelming gratitude for the great work God has done in my life. He reached into the darkest corners of my story and painted them with light. He didn’t just rescue me —- He rebuilt me. He didn’t just restore what was lost—He gave me more than I ever imagined.

Only God can do it for you!

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