“The Mission is just like Heaven to me. I didn’t know
love, understanding and happiness until I came here.”
Shantakia experienced unimaginable loss at the vulnerable young age of 13 when her mother passed away. Two years later, she lost her brother too. Then her father died. Consumed by loneliness and grief, despair followed her into adulthood and prevented her from becoming the woman she knew she could be. Then she came to the Mission.
The trauma from Shantakia’s teenage years wreaked havoc as she grew older. Without proper tools to process her grief, she allowed substance abuse to provide temporary relief from her pain and despair. But that misguided solution led to dependency and homelessness – and ultimately drew Shantakia away from her family and loved ones. While no stranger to sorrow and sadness, being separated from her children was the greatest heartache she’d ever known.
When Iris was just 3 years old, her mother died. Growing up, she didn’t have a loving role model to guide her or remind her of God’s love. When she had children of her own, she says, “I didn’t really know how to be a mom.”
Iris struggled with poor choices and destructive habits for over 32 years. During her darkest times, she hid from her loved ones out of shame, often sleeping on the streets. Despite her perilous lifestyle, her siblings and children believed in her potential and wanted her back in their lives. Iris wanted the same thing… but she didn’t know how to change.
Inspired by her brother, who after battling addiction remained sober for 25 years, Iris took a chance on herself. At age 64, she came to the Mission, where she finally met her heavenly Father. In addition to rebuilding her life here on earth, she hoped to prepare for a life after death. She longed for a reunion with loved ones – especially her mother, who passed when Iris was a child.
“I wanted all of us to be together in Heaven.”
When Iris arrived at the Mission, she was welcomed with open arms. And while she knew learning to walk a new path would not be easy, her children and grandchildren became the inspiration and motivation she needed.
“The thing about grandkids is that they want their grandma all the time. So I came into the program to try to better my relationship with my kids. I wasn’t a good mom, but I want to be the best grandma.”
Like all who enter our LifeBuilders program, Iris is gaining the tools she needs to care for herself and become a productive and contributing member of her family and community. Our faith-based curriculum consists of Bible Study, counseling, life-skills development and adult education. Through our holistic ministry, she’s also learning to overcome destructive habits and maintain a sober lifestyle.
Most importantly, Iris has found the missing piece to happy and healthy living – a relationship with her heavenly Father as a child of God.
“I know that no matter what I did or what I do, God forgives me because He’s my Father and I’m his daughter.”
In between classes, Iris enjoys giving back to the Mission by helping in the kitchen where she serves nourishing meals to those also working hard to transform their lives. After she graduates, she plans to get a job where she can interact with people and share the new joy she has found in God’s love.
She looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren and becoming a godly role model for them, a gift she longed for as a child. And she knows that one day she’ll be reunited with her mother in heaven.
