Washington City Mission - Feature Story - Serving Christ and Community, Washington, Pa.

Feature Story

On the Brink of Despair
God Gave Her a Second Chance

Jean tried to leave the past behind her. After all, she had dealt with pain and loss before. When Jean was 16, her mother died of lung cancer, and everything in her life changed.

Even after Jean's father became emotionally and verbally abusive toward her and Jean turned to drugs as a way to escape the hurt for a while, Jean was able to persevere and beat her addiction. In fact, she stayed clean for 20 years.

Then she lost everything.

Three years ago, Jean lost her apartment and all her possessions in an accidental fire. Suddenly, her home for 18 years and everything she worked for was gone. Unable to cope with the disaster, Jean again surrendered to the drugs she managed to escape for so long.

With nowhere else to go, Jean moved in with her sister and brother-in-law, but her destructive habits ruined their relationship. After three failed attempts at rehabilitation, Jean was stealing money from her sister to support her addiction - and was promptly told to leave and not come back.

Now homeless, suicidal and unable to complete a rehab program, Jean turned to the Washington City Mission's Avis Arbor Women and Children's Shelter programs for help. It wasn't easy, and she almost didn't make it.

During the whole summer of 2004, Jean struggled to beat her severe dependence to heroin. "It was horrible," she says. "The grip that it puts on your soul and your life, I can't even describe. It's like being crushed to death."

But through the encouragement and support of the Mission, Jean let God back into her life and successfully completed her recovery. After two years clean and sober, Jean now works for Washinton City Mission's "Hidden Treasures" Thrift Store in Canonsburg. Jean thanks God and the Mission for rescuing her when she needed it most. She also has happily reconciled with her sister.

The support of generous donors like you allows us to shelter and lift up lost and hurting people like Jean. We pray you will continue to assist us in our mission to serve the needy.

"They really helped me and inspired me to change," Jean says. "If it wasn't for the Mission, I don't know where I'd be."