“I’ve found my purpose and my peace. I know that God will never leave me.”

Throughout her childhood, Nickole and faced one terrifying ordeal after another. “My life was filled with neglect, abuse, loneliness, violence and substance abuse.” 

Rotating through the custody – from her mother, father and an abusive foster family – Nickole would pray to God for comfort and some kind of escape. Yet, she had never even been to church or heard the gospel. “I was desperate, scared and looking for help.”  

At age 17, Nickole moved in with her mother, hoping for change. Sadly, the environment was hopeless and destructive. “My mom was struggling with an active addiction and lived a life of promiscuity.”  

Eventually Nickole had a family of her own… but it wasn’t long before the relationship became abusive. “I was stuck in the same cycle of domestic violence, drugs, trauma bonds – the cycle my parents lived.”   

Then when a tragic fire burned down their home, Nickole and her children lost everything. They ended up living in a tent in downtown San Diego. “I was beyond broken and hopeless, but I was determined that there had to be a way out.” That’s when she came to the Rescue Mission.  

“I promised God that if He opened this door, I would follow Him no matter what.”  

Joining our Mission Academy program was hard work, but Nickole was determined to break the cycle and create the life for her family that she never had. “The classes, devotions, chapel and the staff all worked together to help us heal and begin putting our lives back together.”   

In addition to recovery, the staff at San Diego Rescue Mission has helped Nickole work toward her dream of starting a cleaning business, and creating a stable, healthy home for her family.  

This Christmas, Nickole is experiencing the gifts of peace and hope for a brighter future. Thank you for sharing the blessings of God’s love with her! “The people here led me back to God, and His love for me. They helped me find my purpose and my peace. I know that God will never leave me or forsake me.”

To read this issue of Mission in Motion, click to download.