by
Sylvia Anderson
| Jun 21, 2011
I recently received a lovely note from a young lady who is in California now. She was a resident here for a year and four months. That seems like a long time, but it’s really miraculously fast to overcome the difficult situation she was in.
She came to us high on meth, she had no job, no home. She was a young woman on the streets . . . vulnerable, alone and lost in addiction. Then she enrolled in our recovery program and got clean from alcohol and drugs. She learned basic life skills like balancing a checkbook and setting aside money for a rainy day. She did so well that she became a resident assistant in our shelter.
Today, as she wrote, she has a studio apartment and is training to become a truck driver. She asked me to tell the women still in the program:
“I’ve learned a lot about myself and most of all about God. I’m still learning. And I’m still living a clean and healthy life. Never give up hope, always have faith, try the program. What have you got to lose?”
I love hearing from people like this. It shows that the change that takes place here is real and it really lasts. But even more, I love that she felt a desire to reach out to those still on the journey. Now that her life is stable and she is looking toward her future, she took the time to remember how she got there, to show her gratitude to God by helping others follow her footsteps.
It’s a good example to us all really. Maybe you’ve had hard times yourself. Maybe that’s why you support the Mission. May we always remember where we came from and Who helped us get where we are today – Jesus!
No matter how humble our circumstances, we are blessed abundantly in many ways. And out of gratitude, we can do as He asks, to help the needy and care for the poor just as we would do for Him. Even if it’s only to pray, share a word of encouragement with those still struggling and maybe volunteer. This young lady is on her way to giving back what she has been given. Let’s walk the same path with her!