Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
Daniel is sober, newly married, 5 years after graduation
Growing up, Daniel’s father traveled a lot for work, which contributed to his parents’ divorce. Daniel’s mother remarried when he was 7 and he didn’t have a relationship with his biological father for several years. But in junior high school, after getting into a fist fight, his mother sent him to live with his father.…
Sarah finds God, stability, healing at women’s program
After years of using drugs and living on the streets, Sarah is grateful for the safety and stability of the women’s Life Recovery Program. “I love that there’s a routine,” she said. “I love that there’s structure. I know when I have to get up and go to bed. I know when meals are…I didn’t…
Jerome yearns to end cycle of drugs and homelessness
When Jerome was young, he and his best friend made a pact-no drugs. “My best friend’s dad was heavily into selling and manufacturing drugs,” Jerome said. “We said we would never touch it because we saw the damage it did.” So at 16, when Jerome started going to parties, he stuck to drinking. Even so,…
After losing everything, Trisha forges a new path
But after the deaths of both her parents, the unexpected death of her husband of 28 years, losing their home and everything they owned and having both her young sons removed from her care, Trisha found herself going off the path. “After losing everything-my husband and kids-I spiraled really hard,” she said. “I took the…
Director’s Note
Before we even begin, we want to say thank you for all of the holiday support-we know we will be overflowing with the blessings God will bring us. We are moved every year by the response of the High Desert community. Last year we were able to provide Thanksgiving meals for more than 800 of…
CLAUDIA HAS SPENT YEARS ON THE STREETS SINCE THE END OF HER ABUSIVE MARRIAGE
After 20 years and four children together, Claudia’s marriage ended in divorce. Her family, who Claudia describes as “very religious,” did not approve of the marriage dissolution. And while it was her husband who filed, Claudia had been working up the courage to leave after years of abuse. “I was living with a very violent…
JOHNATHON APPRECIATES SUPPORT, BROTHERHOOD, AT THE MISSION
With a good job in the autobody industry, Johnathon and his high school girlfriend decided to have a baby when he was just 18. He went on to start a career painting aircraft, where he traveled the country painting new models for Boeing. Johnathon loved his work, but the shifts were long, often 14 or…
Director’s Note
In John 5:6, Jesus asked the man, who “had been an invalid for 38 years,” a question: “Do you want to be healed?” I find it intriguing that Jesus asked him that. Of course he wanted to be healed, he was at the pool where many “invalids” lie hoping for this outcome. But he had…
Sean is being ‘patient with the process’ as he anticipates reuniting with family
When Sean entered the Life Recovery Program, he was in the midst of continuing his family’s legacy of alcoholism. He was exposed to drinking at a very young age, and had seen his dad die from cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol abuse. “I had hit rock bottom-I lost my job, my family,” Sean…
STEPHEN SHARES STORY TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED, INSPIRE SUPPORTERS
When Stephen looks back at his childhood, growing up with his parents and three older brothers in Covina, there are a lot of foggy memories. Stephen had a heart attack in 2016 and it’s affected his memory. “I died on the table (for a while),” he said. “So I don’t remember some things well. I…
Director’s Note
When we opened the Women’s Emergency Shelter in November 2021, we celebrated and had immediate success stories of healing and restoration. However, we quickly realized one of the major gaps of service in Victor Valley. The women who were calling our office for assistance, and many of the ladies entering the shelter, had things to…
TRACY GIVES HERSELF TIME TO HEAL AND TO GROW
Tracy knows what it’s like to truly be on her own. At age 13, she began cleaning houses to help the family. “I didn’t have a good childhood, and it was a lot for me to carry,” she said. “We grew up on welfare and my mom was not mentally stable.” Tracy remembers cigarettes and…
