“I have confidence now and hope for my future.”
Latisha was exhausted. She was a mom who worked the graveyard shift as a nursing assistant. Her job was in a hospital intensive care unit, so death and disease were part of her daily life. This, combined with her other responsibilities, was a lot to balance.
“I had so much going on: work, kids, bills and parents,” she says. “It was a lot of stress.”
Additionally, Latisha had a long commute to work and almost fell asleep while driving several times. She needed a way to stay awake while driving to work, so she tried every energy drink she could find – but nothing worked. Then, a friend suggested she try methamphetamine to stay awake. She also heard the drug would help her lose weight – which was appealing since Latisha had always struggled with her appearance and self-esteem.
“When I tried the drug, I felt like I had so much energy – but eventually, it made my life so much work. I developed an addiction and had an emotional breakdown that kept me from working. I stopped taking care of myself completely.”
By the time Latisha came to The Mission at Kern County, she was homeless and in danger of losing custody of her children.
“I went from no hope to having the confidence I can succeed.”
With the support of our staff, Latisha’s children were able to join her at our Recovery Home for Women & Children – where they found a chance to build a better life together. Latisha also overcame her addiction and re-established her relationship with God. Now, she has confidence in herself and hope for her future. “The Mission saved my life. It taught me love, togetherness and how to form trusting bonds,” she says.
This Christmas, Latisha is experiencing all the joy this season has to offer – because YOU believed in the power of a fresh start and the promise of God’s unending love. “I’m still learning and growing every day, but I see myself as beautiful and capable for the first time.”
Read the full Holiday 2024 Newsletter here.