Crystal and her 10-year-old daughter were one of the first families to move into the new Lee & Krystyna Jamieson Recovery Home for Women with Children. Today, they’re still overjoyed to have a safe, loving home here.
After years of addiction, Crystal found the courage to leave her husband and get clean. She says, “Me, my husband and my daughter were evicted and homeless. My husband wanted to continue using drugs, living that kind of lifestyle, but I went to rehab.”
Crystal’s husband was sent to jail, and she needed a place to stay and continue recovering after completing her rehab program. She was so grateful when she heard about The Mission at Kern County’s program. “There are no other women and children’s programs in Bakersfield. It’s hard for women like me to recover from drug use, so a program where you can have your kids is very helpful. My daughter is safe now.”
Crystal and her daughter were blessed with the essentials of safe shelter… nutritious meals… and everything they needed to feel comfortable and at home. She also found indescribable joy and peace through a relationship with Jesus.
Crystal has learned so much from daily parenting and life-skills classes, and rejoices in her hard-earned sobriety. “Now I know I don’t have to live like I used to and be around people who use drugs. I have a new way to live and want to be around people that love Jesus,” Crystal shares.
She starts each morning reading her Bible and praying in the chapel, and she spends her evenings strengthening her relationship with her daughter. Her daughter is thankful for the change and says, “My mom isn’t doing drugs, and I’m not scared of being around her anymore.”
“The Mission gets women off the streets, gives them a place to stay and helps them see their worth. Now I have hope, support and love. I know there are people who care.”