Thanks to you, Ernestine discovers God’s love for the first time
Ernestine will always remember her Valentine’s Day at Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.
“I had some nice clothes on,” she says with a smile, “and I felt like a First Lady. Everybody told me how good I looked, and that made me feel good about myself.”
The Abandoned Child
For Ernestine, feeling good about herself was a powerful experience…because it was so new. “I was abused as a child,” she explains through tears, “and my mother gave me away when I was six. I never once heard my mother say she loved me. There were six of us, and I could never understand why she gave me away. She couldn’t give me an honest answer.”
Ernestine tried to cover her pain with drugs, and even after she fought her way to sobriety three years ago, she couldn’t escape her scars. Unable to take care of herself, she slept outside underneath the stars. “I even went to dumpsters to eat,” she says. “I was always depressed and crying.” Ernestine urgently needed to know someone loved her — and your support made all the difference!
Love that Lasts Forever
“I’m 56 years old and I never thought my life would change until I came here,” Ernestine declares. “Here, people tell you they love you. They say, ‘You’re a beautiful person.’ That means a lot to me. And it just makes you feel special.”
Best of all, Ernestine discovered the eternal love of God. “I really didn’t know Christ,” she admits, and always avoided “God talk” before. “But since I came here I just can’t get enough of it. I’m hungry for it. And the people who come and worship with us, they are wonderful.”
At Union Gospel Mission, support from friends like you helps treat the whole person, uncovering the emotional and spiritual roots of homelessness. With new self-respect and the knowledge that she is a beloved child of God, Ernestine says, “I can take steps and move up. My goal is to do what I have to do, and my hope for the future is to come back to this place and help somebody else.”
Thank you for helping Ernestine discover the joy of living in God’s love!
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