Hi, my name is Angie. I came to the Mission in the summer of 2018. I had no job, was living on my family’s couch, and was out of money. I was depressed, felt hopeless, and needed structure in my life. I had been doing things my way, which never worked out, I was fed up and decided to do something about it. One day I picked up the phone and called the Rescue Mission. Bob Railton answered the phone, who is now my husband, and said, “Come on down and fill out an application. We have a few programs that might be a good fit for you.” And I did! I lived in a sober living home for three weeks, then I transferred to Hope for Women for seven months. I graduated from the program in March of 2019 and moved out on my own! I had a part-time job with the Mission and gradually worked my way up. I am now a full-time office assistant to Mr. Tim Adam and Mrs. Bettie Stephens. I got married a month ago to Bob and we now have a little place of our own that we can call “ours”. I am a walking testament to what God can do. With Him I am everything & without Him I am nothing.
Today, I am confident in myself and the work I do. And what I see in the mirror I love because I now accept that I am a child of God. Most of all, I have been forgiven and restored by His GRACE. I am eternally grateful to OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and the RESCUE MISSION for what I have become today.
I was sexually abused as a child and grew up with problems. My mother placed blame on me, and my little sister, and she never looked back. I grew up with hate in my heart for her and could not fathom forgiving her, yet the mention of her name made me cry. My grandmother raised me the best she could. She passed when I was a young adult right after high school. I was alone in the world, scared and lost. I turned to drugs and alcohol to fill the void and to deal with the pain, sorrow, and struggles. I had not seen or heard from my mother in forty years until three years ago. My mom wanted to see my little sister and me. She was dying from stage four lung cancer and the end was near for her. It was time to end my hate for her. We were able to tell her we forgave her and took care of her in her final days. She died six weeks later. Forgiveness is the only way to set yourself free from those who have harmed you. Today, I look back at this situation in a different light. Instead of telling myself, “Why did you come back into our lives just to leave again and never come back?” I now say, “We had a few great weeks with mom. We were blessed to have been able to care for her and to send her on her way peacefully.” Amen.
