Joyce considered the unsheltered guests she visited with her friends.

Joyce shares her story to help others

For the past 15 years, Joyce Rothschild faithfully came to the Mission to serve our guests.

Joyce’s heart for serving our unsheltered neighbors and friends was joyfully obvious. Joyce distributed meals, hygiene kits, blankets, emergency clothing, bus passes, and more. She memorized our informational guide to better help those in need. Our guests became Joyce’s friends.

In Joyce’s own words: “I want to tell you how I met my very best friend, Jesus.

My parents took us to church every Sunday, but I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus.

After I was married and had two children, we all caught the flu. Our youngest daughter, who was 2 years old, became very sick. I took her to the emergency room. After an hour, the doctor came out and told us she had died of pneumonia. I was in shock. I became very depressed and didn’t want to live anymore. I needed help.

I knew Cindy was in Heaven. I wanted to find out everything about Heaven, so I took out the little Bible my mother had given me when I was 10. I began reading as fast as I could.

I didn’t find out so much about Heaven, but when I was reading it, God began to speak to me. He said, ‘Joyce, this is what life is all about; this is why you were born, and this is what I want you to do.’ So, I said, ‘Okay God.’ In the Bible it says for us to surrender our lives to God (Romans 12:1), so that’s what I did.

I got down on my knees, told God I was sorry for my sins, and that I believed His Son Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I said, ‘I surrender my life to You.’ And, thus, asked Jesus to come into my life, live His life through me, and fill me with His Holy Spirit. And that’s exactly what He did.

I began going outside every day to read the Bible. When I was outdoors, I noticed that everything seemed illuminated – the trees and grass were greener. The sky was bluer. This continued for several days.

As I followed the Bible, God changed my life all around and gave me a new life to live. He gave me peace, joy, and love for people that I never knew before, and I started serving in my church and in my community.

Knowing Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me. If He can do that for me, He can do it for you too!”