She was familiar with the homeless community and resources, so we went down to the GNRM, I was introduced to Matt and we became very good friends. I got Sarah and we hustled some help and cleaned that place in a few days. Well, my daughter Chris had purchased a house in town for her son, the college party house, it was in need of cleaning and a tenant! Well needless to say, we could clean and we needed a house to get our sober living home started. I needed somewhere for the transitional house to exist. Her name was Sarah, she was quite the character and from Oklahoma to boot, it seemed quite the mismatch God putting us together, but he had this nailed from the start, she was hardcore addiction and homeless in need of a home, and I now had a home, she had her rent and I needed income, I took her into the spare bedroom at my condo and she was the first woman of Serenity House! I decided to go up to Bethel Church and give thanks to God for all he has done! I happened to run into a woman I had helped years before in her addiction, she was now a friend. So he came over and painted it a beautiful harvest oat color, it was beautiful! God is so good!! It just so happened my son was learning the trade. He said, hon if you like the place so dang much and you want to paint it, I will let you have it and you can pay me rent when you get it. Then another week went by, and I called him and said Manny, I am not getting any money soon, but since you have been so kind, I am a real estate broker, if you need help, I can run an ad and get this rented for you. Still not having any money I checked back with him after a couple weeks and it was still available. I went and looked at other places, but my mind always went back to the condo. I told him I really did not have my finances together yet, but I would stay in touch. I was not thrilled with the dark green walls, but I loved the location and the floor plan. I met with the owner, an older Italian guy named Manny and he showed it to me, we clicked right off. I had run across an ad for a condo in Ridgecrest, I made an appointment to go see it. I now had a sense of direction, so I started praying for a place to live. I did not even have a house for myself to live in, let alone a place for transitional women? I moved out of my house for practical reasons and it opened the door so my grandson and his fiancé could live there while attending the fire academy, but I knew in my heart things were going to be ok. They had a better idea, and all of us agreed that I could start a transitional house for women in recovery, they could refer women graduating their program to me. I went to friends and family I could trust, Pastor Tim & Carol Moore, Bev & Carson Vineyard (my sister & brother in-law) who were always there watching out for me as well as Steve & Tammy Lucarelli who run Visions of the Cross that were there for counsel, they were building and expanding their ministry, and I had a heart for helping to restore families affected by addiction, so I met with them for prayer and counseling and to discuss perhaps working in their ministry towards being a drug and alcohol counselor. I started praying fervently for my finances and provision for employment. Now the practical stuff needed to be figured out, how would I support myself, as I left our business behind, and although I am a real estate broker, the market was in the dirt, I quickly made a decision to trust God and start fresh. We made a commitment to each other to keep our family relationships a priority, we would not let the enemy win, we would show kindness to one another and keep our life traditions and celebrations alive. It was heart wrenching, but I knew it was the healthy choice to make. Serenity House was started twelve years ago, June 2009, after some serious times of prayer and reflection I knew it was time for making some very tough life decisions, I was at a place of starting life anew and alone, from scratch, after a marriage of forty-one years. We are in prayer for Gods provision right now, and prayer certainly is welcome.Īn answer to prayer: Our testimony Part 1 Jesus has been with us from day one and he has never left us. We do not know what the future holds for us, but we know who holds our future! We are in one of those moments right now, and I do not know the outcome, so I wanted to at least share our story and our hearts for those that may not even know we exist. I wanted to take a moment and reflect on our Serenity House Family, I know it seems odd but this place can be 5150 one minute and watch each others backs with prayer and help the next!
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