God brought me through some hard times to turn my heart to Him!

 
Makayla, Jennifer, & Destiny

I came to the mission in November 2005, not because I wanted to come. I will be 25 years old this month, and I have seen some hard times in my life. I have three children, a son, who is seven, a daughter, who is six, and another daughter, who is two. Back when I was a child, I lived with my grandmother. I loved her dearly, but did not always listen to what she tried to teach me. She was very faithful to her church and took me, but at 14, I decided church was not for me. This was a bad decision and the beginning of my troubles. When I found out I was expecting my third child, I left the loving home of my grandmother before telling her about the baby. I felt I just could not break her heart again. I tried to work it out with the father of the baby, but when I was four months pregnant, he threw me out. I did not know what to do. Most of my family was in this area, but I decided I would go to New York. Another bad choice. I was there for the birth of my second daughter, trying to work and provide for my two daughters. During this time, my grandmother passed away. I felt so alone knowing she was gone. I always felt in the back of my mind, that my grandmother would be there to help me when I called her.It was hard living alone In New York. I was in a shelter there for a while, but with help, I found a one-bedroom apartment. The rent was $925 a month. Then there was daycare for two children, food, diapers, lights, and other bills. After a year, I called my mother to ask if I could come home. I was tired from working all the time, depressed from being alone, and missed my family.I came back to North Carolina to the home of my parents. With in a week, things tensed up between my sister and me. We argued and mom told me I had to get out. She called several shelters in Raleigh, took me downtown, and dropped me off. November is a hard time to get in a shelter. Most are full because of the holidays and the cold weather. There was no room for my girls and me. I went to the park and sat down on a bench, clutching my baby and wondering what am I going to do now? I am homeless with two little girls. I saw a hot dog vendor and ask her if I could borrow her cell phone to call my mom. She let me use it and I called. My mother came to pick me up and took me straight to the Durham Rescue Mission’s Good Samaritan Inn. I thank the Lord that they were able to take us and give us shelter, otherwise, I would have been on the street with my little girls. My mom made it plain; I was not going home with her again.When we got there, it was already dark. The staff fixed the girls and me a hot meal. I had not eaten all day so I was very thankful for the meal. Then they took us to a lovely room just for us. I was a little scared at first, but thankful to have a warm place for the girls to sleep. The rules at the Mission were more biblically based than the shelter in New York. Since I had been brought up in church, I felt I could abide by the rules.Having gone to church until I was 14, I felt I knew a lot, but I did not know the most important thing! I had never accepted Christ as my personal Savior. I had tried to do it my way and I wound up homeless with three children. In January 2006, I decided I would give my heart to Jesus and serve Him as my personal Savior.I finished the Victory Program at the women’s division and I am currently working in the development office as a data entry clerk. My plans today are to serve the Lord where he would have me. I would like to continue to work at the mission and give back for all the wonderful things the Lord has done for me. I would like to say, ‘Thank you!’ to all the supporters of the ministries of the Durham Rescue Mission. Your gifts and prayers are why I am here today. Without your help, I may not have had the opportunity to hear and understand God’s love and to receive His help for my life. I cannot explain how truly thankful I am for this ministry.

- Jennifer Velez, January 2007