“I was so angry, but my heart has been transformed.”

Growing up, Serenity was close with her siblings. As a young adult, she found herself in a dangerous dilemma. “I faced domestic violence in my relationship.” Finding her courage, Serenity escaped, but her freedom came with new hardships. “I was sleeping in my car,” she says, “trying to stay in school and keep working.” Serenity’s sister was a recent graduate from the Rescue Mission’s 12-month rehabilitation program, Mission Academy, and told her it could be a place to start over. Serenity resisted her sister’s invitation at first. “My biggest challenge was my pride. I didn’t want to admit I was stuck.” She soon realized that her sister was right. “I didn’t know what I was hoping to find, I just realized I needed help.” “I was so angry when I came here, but my heart has been transformed.” As soon as she walked through the door, Serenity felt a rush of love and community that began to heal the wounds she still carried from her abusive relationship. “Having a network, a support group that I can depend on, made a huge difference for me.” Being in a faith-based program also provided healing and growth in her spiritual walk. “I was raised in church and had a relationship with God, but being here has added so much to that.” Serenity has recently graduated from our program and was even a speaker at her ceremony. Now, she is looking to the future with dreams of her own. “I want to open my own shop. I want to help single-family households and start my own youth group… because our children are our future.” Your gifts are bearing fruit in the lives of people like Serenity. Now, her heart is full of hope this fall… thanks to your kindness! “The Rescue Mission changed the way I see myself. They gave me things I needed to heal – a shoulder to lean on, someone to talk to, a community. I feel prepared for my future now.” To read this issue of Mission in Motion, click to download.