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Leonce appreciates “everyone whohelps make food pantries happen”
He now volunteers at the church pantry In 2023, Leonce relocated to the United States from Ghana, West Africa. Upon arrival in Van Nuys, Leonce and his fiancée were married. They became members of Rock of The Valley Church of God in Christ and began working in the Missions Ministry. Finding steady work with his…
A decade after graduating, Michelle has “never left” the Mission
She’s been working at RMA for over six years Michelle’s parents divorced when she was just 2 years old. Although her mother remarried, it was a “very abusive” relationship. “I grew up in a home surrounded by domestic violence-both verbal and physical,” Michelle shared. “It wasn’t towards me, but to my mother. Eventually, she succumbed…
Mission helps Juan find his purpose, relearn his worth
Growing up in Guadalupe, CA, Juan was surrounded by a loving family and a tight-knit community. His childhood was filled with sports, school, and days spent at the beach. With parents from Mexico, he was raised with strong values and a deep sense of community. However, despite his supportive upbringing, life took an unexpected turn.…
Noeli discovers it’s “never too late” while at Mission
Due to an abusive upbringing, Noeli began using heroin at 16. At 17, after a heartbreaking stillbirth, drugs became her primary coping mechanism. In 2014, Noeli went to prison for five years for armed robbery. Six months after release, she went back to prison for two years for grand theft auto. By late 2021, Noeli…
With Mission’s help, nothing is “out of reach” for Joee
This is the second story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Joee’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. The way Joee sees it, doors are opening, and his future is bright. “I just got hired as a driver at our thrift store,…
Christina graduates program, puts lifetimeof drinking behind her
She’s focusing on helping others Christina, 53, struggled with alcoholism most of her life, but it wasn’t until her husband passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that her life truly began to spiral. “I was his caretaker. He passed away right in front of me. It was a battle,” Christina said. “I watched him completely deteriorate.…
After 10 years of addiction, Victor leaves drugs behind
He’s forging a new path At 2 years old, Victor’s parents divorced. His mother raised Victor and his two older brothers by herself, but due to work, often left them with a babysitter. “I didn’t really have a relationship with my mom growing up. It seemed I saw the babysitter more than I did my…
Krystal vows to “get the most” out of program
She’s beginning to address her trauma Most of Krystal’s adolescence went unsupervised. Her mother spent her days drinking at the casino, leaving Krystal alone for long stretches of time. “My mom didn’t supervise me very much,” Krystal said. “I was lonely. She wasn’t there, at home, so I did whatever I wanted.” Krystal began hanging…
Jason “washes” his old life away, embraces the new
He was baptized at the Mission When Jason was in junior high, his mother and him were kicked out of their apartment. They lived in his mother’s car for years. “My childhood, I didn’t really get to see,” Jason said. “I grew up pretty quick bouncing around from friend’s house to friend’s house, trying to…
Family flees persecution, finds safety, support at Mission
They feel like they’re among family Living in fear of persecution was not the life Perla and Byron wanted for themselves or for their children. Facing deadly threats, the family was forced to flee to escape the violence and unrest in their home country. When they arrived in Los Angeles, Perla and Byron were left…
J.R. is grateful for the Mission’s open doors
After graduating, he returned to work at RMA VC On a recent morning drive to pick up donations for the Mission, J.R. was thinking about all the opportunities that have become available for him since graduating from the Life Recovery Program in January 2019. “It’s amazing how much my life has changed and how many…
Program offers Ana the time she needs to“be still,” heal from past trauma
She’s reunited with her two youngest children Reflecting on her childhood, Ana takes a moment to collect her thoughts. “I didn’t grow up emotionally stable,” she said. “I was always depressed. I had a lot of trauma growing up.” When Ana was just 1 year old, she suffered severe acid burns on her face, resulting…
