Gina is grateful to be able to finally focus on her own health.

“I’m so grateful to the Mission; you literally rescued my life,” Gina said quietly.

For over 20 years, Gina worked as a certified nursing assistant. Helping others was something she always wanted to do, and it brought her immense joy. “I’ve loved taking care of people, helping people. I got my CNA license when I was 19. I’m 50 now, and I’ve been doing that ever since, until about four years ago,” she said.

But helping others came at the cost of neglecting her own health. She’s now disabled – suffering from severe back pain and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) due to excessive smoking. Because of her disability, she was no longer able to work, and unfortunately, Gina was unable to receive benefits at the time.

Gina reached out to multiple shelters but never made it passed the interview phase, even as she experienced domestic violence. Gina smoked marijuana when she was younger, and started using methamphetamines when she was on the streets.

One day, her daughter found the number to the Mission. “She always jokes and asks if everyone knows that she’s the one who found this place for me,” Gina laughed.

Finally, Gina was accepted. “I didn’t even know I wanted in so badly until I had my interview. I was so nervous,” Gina said. “As soon as they said it was Christian based, I knew I had to be here. That was the key. That was the hook for me.

“The best part is that my family feels so much better now that I’m not on the streets or living with drug addicts. They love me and no longer have to worry about me.”

Now, five months into the program, Gina has learned to identify and overcome her major weaknesses. “Cigarettes are my worst enemy because it’s a trigger for me (to use) methamphetamines. I just figured that out with my counselor,” she admitted. “I was like ‘Oh my God, I’m 50 years old, what a breakthrough!’ It makes me fight cigarettes even better now, because I never want to go back to that. I’m stronger now.”

After graduation, Gina is looking forward to spending more time with her four adult children and is planning to move to Oregon to be close to her grandchildren.

While Gina is grateful to have found safety and shelter, she’s also excited that she’s able to finally “take care of business,” she said. She had dental, vision, medical, housing and benefit appointments all in one month. “You’re comfortable enough to start taking care of yourself, to love yourself. They give you that opportunity here.

“I wouldn’t have the support to do any of this if I wasn’t at the Mission. I can never repay the donors or the Mission. You literally saved my life and blessed my family.”