Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
Elena gets baptized, finds hope and excitement for future
Elena was born in Guatemala City and moved to Los Angeles with her mother before she was 10. They eventually moved to Apple Valley, where they lived for 20 years. When Elena’s mother began to have “personal problems” with family members, she planned to move out of the city, and told Elena that she could…
Jimmy begins to rebuild his life after relapse
Jimmy grew up in foster care until he was 17. At that point he “bounced around the East Coast,” he said. “I was a little bit like a rolling stone.” With not much to tether him, Jimmy decided to join the military. “I didthat for four years and then I came back, but I realized…
Director’s Note
Love is always worth the cost Who has God called you to love? Or, in other words, who in your life are you finding it difficult to love? Here at the Mission, we have the beautiful opportunity to walk with many who are deemed “hard to love.” Some of our guests have a tough time…
The one question that changed Chris’ life forever
He’s now nearing 16 years of sobriety When Chris is asked to recall his childhood, there’s a lot that he admits he would rather not think about. “I’m still processing it all if I’m honest,” he said. “I’m still not fully healed.” On the outside, Chris seemed to have an “All-American” background, competing in track…
Director’s Note
A year of blessings As the year comes to a close, I ask: What are you grateful for? I am grateful for the amazing provision of the Lord Jesus for the Mission this past year. Our prayer for the Mission is for the Holy Spirit to put us on the hearts and minds of our…
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…
