”“My son’s dad was pretty sure that he never wanted me around our child ever again… and I don’t really blame him.”
JessieMission Resident
Jessie tells me in a very matter-of-fact way, “My son’s dad was pretty sure that he never wanted me around our child ever again… and I don’t really blame him.” Her story came as a bit of a side conversation as I had originally come in to ask Monica about the progress of a mural we had commissioned for our children’s playroom (more on this later).
After a little time at the Mission and because of the progress she is making personally, Jessie said, “So we’ve started really slow and now he’s like, ‘Hey would you like to meet us at the racetrack to watch our son race his bicycle?’ And so his dad is giving me more time… more than we decided in court.”
Jessie came to us in a state of mental distress, partially due to the potential reality that she would never be allowed to see her son again. But as Monica Conley told her upon entry, “Jessie, we are not going to give up hope because I have a God that is huge!”
As Jessie humbled herself and prayed with Monica for the courage to face whatever God had for her, she knew that the courts were her next step. Of course, it was hard not to drag her feet a little because it was scary going to court and she expected that it would be in court that she would discover the loss of her parental rights. To her surprise, when she arrived at court, she discovered that her son’s father had never filed to have her rights removed! She recounts, “I dropped to my knees and thanked God right then and there!”
In addition to this, Jessie has acquired full-time employment, received her driver’s license, purchased a car, and is so excited about telling everyone she knows about the greatness of Jesus. If that’s not enough, she was baptized on Easter Sunday at Applegate Christian Fellowship! Now she is moving into our transitional program at Faith House, and we are so excited to continue to walk with her and help her prepare for an independent life! Please pray for Jessie and the many Mission residents just like her, that God will continue to make Himself known to them and show them His great favor!
By: Brian Bouteller, Executive Director