Mission Moments - Snapshots from the Soul
Every person who passes through the doors of City Union Mission has a unique story to tell - every man, every woman, and every child. Some stories are gripping, some are interesting, and some are heartwarming, while others are heartbreaking.
We have captured several stories that may change the way you view homelessness forever. Here is your chance to take a glimpse into the lives of a few of our precious clients, volunteers, and donors. We hope you will take a minute to engross yourself in these powerful testimonies. Please place yourself in their shoes, and join them in their past sorrows as well as their newfound joy.
Erin
“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”
Erin grew up in beautiful San Diego County in California, but that beauty was not reflected in her home-life. As the oldest of five children, Erin endured physical abuse from her father and neglect from her mother. "It was that way for all of us," she says.
One of the ways Erin found to cope was to pour herself into school and school activities. “When I was at school I felt alive. I had lots of really close friends, but when I came home I just shut down.”
“In 2000 I married James. The next year our first child, Dominque, was born. Then James lost his job. He started using drugs and became violent. I thought I had left the abuse behind. It was devastating.”
Then their second child came along, little Kara. Erin delved back into old habits, going to classes at the college in Visalia, working 2 jobs, and trying to care for her children. “The only time I was happy was when I was at work or school.”
She finished her freshman year when James decided to move the family to Missouri. “That was really hard for me to leave all my close friends. I didn’t understand why he was doing this, but I couldn’t leave him. I had expected to be married forever and James was the one, so I went. I thought I could still make it work, but when I got out here, I realized that I was in a really bad situation and had to do something. I just couldn’t take it anymore. James and I separated with joint custody of the kids. I got a job and an apartment.”
Then Erin was laid off of her job. “The week I was laid off, Dominque and Kara were with James. He packed the kids up and ran away with them. The owners of the apartment I was in let me stay as long as possible, but they couldn’t let me stay forever. So when I lost the apartment, I went to City Union Mission for help. I was thinking that if I could get a good job, that would help change things. My case manager helped me get a job with Marriot Hotel in downtown Kansas City, MO, so I only stayed a month at the Mission. After I got the job, I stayed with a friend for a while. All the time I was trying to find out where James had taken my kids.”
Erin learned that James had taken their children back to California, but she didn’t know where. She picked up everything she had and traveled back there hoping for help from her family. She found that her grandmother was dying and that the family was not providing the necessary care. So, Erin moved in, caring for her grandmother during her last days, while trying to locate her kids.
“After grandma died, I did what I could to locate the kids. Eventually, I found out that James had returned to Missouri with them. So again I picked up all that I had and came back here to find them. The Marriot took me back and I stayed with a friend. Finally I found out where Dominque and Kara were, and with the help of the police and child protection services I was able to get them back.
I thought the best thing for me and my kids would be to go back to California so they could grow up around my family. At first it was really great, but then all the old abuse bubbled up again. It was crazy.”
Erin thought if only she worked hard enough, everything would be okay. But it wasn’t. It didn’t take long for her to come to the realization that she had to get herself and her children away from the abuse. “I don’t want my kids growing up thinking this is normal. I want to stop the abuse now.”
Friends from Missouri bought her and the children train tickets to Kansas City. She returned to City Union Mission, this time with her children, resolving to complete the New Life Program. “That had not been in my thinking the first time I was here, but now I knew I had to make some drastic changes for me and my kids.
I came to City Union Mission in June of 2006 and started the New Beginning Covenant class, which transitions into the New Life Program. In August, I was ready for the Foundation class. The New Life Program is comprised of Foundations, Basic 1, 2, 3, and Advanced. Currently I am in Basic 2, and should be completing the Advanced portion of the New Life Program by March of 2007 if all goes on schedule.
I had to do something to stop the cycle of abuse. I had been working so hard and thought if I could just work hard enough it would make a difference in my marriage and in my family of origin. But I found out that that was wrong. James has to want to change, my family back in California have to want to change. All I can do is work on myself and be the best mother I can be for my kids.
The best thing about City Union Mission is the staff. They are so encouraging and positive. I’m seeing a difference in the kids too. It is definitely having a positive impact upon them.
The program is challenging. It is definitely not a cakewalk, especially the recovery classes. There are a lot of rules, but I know I’ll be so proud when I complete it all.
This year my kids and I are really looking forward to Christmas! I want to thank the donors who enable City Union Mission to reach out to people like me. You have given me and my kids a chance for a new life!”