Mercedes has hope this Christmas thanks to you!
“The Mission gave me a second chance.”
Mercedes can trace the beginning of her struggles back to childhood. “My dad, who was my best friend, died when I was 14. So I lived with my mom and my stepdad who was very abusive,” she says. The instability and danger she experienced at home led Mercedes to act out. “I started doing whatever I wanted, using drugs and partying.”
Eventually, this behavior landed her in prison where she gave birth to her son. “I only got to see him for four hours. Then they took him and I didn’t see him again until he was almost 2.”
After she was released, Mercedes got into an abusive relationship and had a daughter. She also lost custody of her because of struggles with addiction. “I kept using to numb all the pain. I did not want to live anymore.”
“I remember praying to God because I knew I couldn’t do it anymore.”
After another arrest, Mercedes found an answer to her prayer. A judge gave her the opportunity to go to rehab instead of back to prison, and a spot opened at the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission.
“I was so happy to be here, but it was also hard,” Mercedes says. “Everyone was kind and helpful. At first, I fought the support and the love. I thought, ‘You don’t even know me. How can you love me?’”
With the help of a caring community walking alongside her, Mercedes began to change her life for the better. “They opened my eyes to see that God is working in my life. Since coming to the Mission, I am alive. I have a new life in Christ.”
Through working in our clothing closet and pop-up pantry, Mecedes discovered a heart and a gift for serving. “I’ve learned that I love helping people. I’m really good with people and they love my energy.”
This Christmas, Mercedes is experiencing God’s grace at work in her life. Thank you for sharing the gift of hope with her! “I feel like a new person. I am thankful to the Mission because they gave me a second chance.”
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