My name is Panida Mookdasnit Stanford. I am 44 years old and was born in Los Angeles, CA. When I was 2 years old my Dad took me to Thailand to live with my Grandmother. From the ages of 2-7, my Grandmother mentally and physically abused me. From all, I went through as a child and other traumatic events that happened as a young adult, I began using drugs and alcohol to answer to my distress. I soon found myself selling drugs to support my habit.
At the age of 37, I was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, and incarcerated in Bexar County Jail. It was there I met Jesus Christ. During my sentencing, I was given the option of reinstating my probation or going to prison for two years. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to my heart “choose life or choose death”. For me choosing death would be reinstating my probation and going back to the same lifestyle I was living. Choosing life would be going to prison for 2 years. I chose life and wound up spending 9 months in prison. The Bible tells me; “My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”. Isaiah 55:8-9
I continued choosing life when God led me to Grace House from the Marlin Unit Prison in February 2015. I went through the Grace House program and graduated. Then, I stayed on at Grace House as an Intern and later became House Supervisor. In May of 2018, I was asked to go to Bexar County Court House to represent Grace House during a hearing for a potential resident. Little did I know that the bailiff in that courtroom was my future husband. I know that God put me and my husband, Brian Stanford together. We were married 5 months later on December 1st, 2018 at Grace House.
The day I got married I left my role as House Supervisor. After leaving Grace House, I worked at another company and spent the next two years enjoying my new life as a married woman.
In December of 2020, the door opened for me to come back to work for Grace House as Program Director. I’m excited and so thankful to be back. Throughout my time at Grace House God has changed me, He has healed me in ways that I couldn’t imagine. I love watching the power of God at work in the ladies that God brings to Grace House as well as their family’s lives. I see miracles every day! My heart is filled with gratitude for His love and redeeming power in my life and to have the privilege of being part of this important ministry.