Housed and Happy, Erica Looks to the Future

“My life has been hard,” says Erica, a mother of three. “I have been homeless quite a few times. I’ve stayed on couches, sometimes I slept outside, and there were times when I rented a room.”

Erica and her daughters, now grown, have also stayed at Muskegon Rescue Mission on several occasions. “Each time I came,” Erica remembers, “they opened their arms to me. They prayed for me. They encouraged me.”

Especially during her most recent stay, Erica found comfort in attending chapel daily. “I could be in a bad mood, but when I went to chapel, God took over and nothing else mattered. I needed that. I need Him in my life every single day.”

Your support for Muskegon Rescue Mission also helped Erica get back on her feet financially. She has been working for the past two years but found it difficult to pay her bills and keep a roof over her head. Putting anything aside for emergencies was out of the question. “The money management classes helped tremendously,” she says. “I know that my rent comes first. And I need help saving.”

“I WON’T STOP PRAYING AND PRAISING GOD. HE’S NOT DONE WITH ME YET.”

Erica recently moved into an apartment of her own and could not be happier. Even the smallest housekeeping tasks bring her satisfaction. “Doing the dishes, wiping stuff down, mopping and sweeping — it’s wonderful!”

This time around, Erica believes her stability will last. Currently working as a dietary aide in an elderly care facility, she plans to continue her education and become a Certified Nursing Assistant. And she is armed with newfound confidence in God and in herself.

“Fear of failing has held me back in life,” Erica admits, “but I’m going to try to move up the ladder. I have my own place now, but I won’t stop praying and praising God. He’s not done with me yet.”

Connect with us to get the latest news from Muskegon Rescue Mission