Thanksgiving at the Mission

At this point in my life, I couldn't have had a better holiday than the one here at Wayside. The strength, love, and hope I experienced here from the staff, residents, and volunteers was beyond words. I was truly happy.

Tina






Thanksgiving was a blessing here at Wayside. The volunteers were not only great at serving and cleaning, but they were actually there to cheer me up when I became sad from missing my loved ones. May they all continue to be blessed for blessing to us here at Wayside.

Jacqueline






Thanksgiving Day was about praising the Lord for all my blessings. Being in the choir was the best way I could have spent my day. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of it all.

Bridget



I was so happy to have my family come and share the day with me here at Wayside. The volunteers were so helpful and nice to my grandkids. They had alot of fun. The food was delicious and plentiful. Thank God for Wayside!

Vickie



Thanksgiving Day was a blessing to me. I just love being a member of the choir. I enjoyed karaoke and being able to have fun clean and sober. I am very blessed to be at Wayside trying to live a better life. I'm grateful to have Ms.Virginia as a part of my life.

Clara

Sheila hopes a new building will provide a space to study and focus

My name is Sheila…and I came to Wayside in July of 2008. Since I’ve been here over the last two months, Wayside Christian Mission has been a blessing to not just me, but my family. Wayside has really put meaning back into my life where I thought life was not good for anything. It has taught me responsibility for my actions and respect for myself and others. When I got here, I was spiritually broken hearted, thinking nobody in this world of ours cared. I met Ms. Virginia and I have to say that just knowing her and her staff has been another blessing all by itself. Wayside Christian Mission has done a lot for me. When I needed a place to stay, the door was open to me along with food, clothes, and just about anything a person could need.
Now Wayside Christian Mission is not just a recovery program, it is also a homeless shelter for many. Since I have been here, I have seen so many people come and go, and Wayside has never turned anyone who was in need of help away. Wayside Christian Mission has so much respect for this community. What I think the importance of the new building would be for me? Well, first of all I want to say not just for me but for anyone who enters, we all have needs and some are different than others. A new and bigger building would have all of us in a different section where we all could get the kind of help we need. Myself, I need time to study and focus on putting my life back together from alcohol and drugs. I need a place where I can go and let my God minister to me. I cannot just focus on my needs. A new place can bring everybody together where no one would be turned away. We all have different walks of life, but in reality we are all children of God.

Thank you,

Resident looks forward to a new campus

Wayside is a great place in the short time I have been here. It has been a blessing to me because I had nowhere to go. The staff here has treated me fine. I have met many different people, but not as pleasant as the people at Wayside. What really has helped me the most is that I am learning to focus on myself. I am thankful to God for Wayside. It would mean a great deal to me and the others to get a new building so that other needs could be supplied. Many more people could benefit if we had this new place. Also we have a case manager who helps us with a great number of things. I am also grateful for Ms. Virginia putting up with us. If Wayside had the new building there could be activities like:

Computer Classes
Art Classes
Dance Classes
Recovery Dynamics
Activities for Families and Children.

May God bless you,
Valerie

The Mission helped me get back to work

In January, I found myself without a home. I had nowhere to go. All I had were the clothes on my back, and I was facing sleeping on the streets. Instead, I came to Wayside Christian Mission. The workers were kind and welcomed me. I was treated with respect. I was told what the rules were and the staff showed me to a bed with linen. I was invited to participate in the Work-Out program. Now I go to work everyday. Every payday I make a deposit into the “bank” so that I will have enough money saved for my own apartment.
I am currently looking for an affordable apartment. The one drawback is that I will miss my new friends when I leave. Thank you for the chance to stay here.

Esther

"I try to pull alot of God into my system"...Cathy

My name is Cathy, I came to Wayside for Richmond VA. I came because I was tired of being in the madness. A couple friends of mine told me about this place. So I decided to come. I got tired of hurting my children and myself. I felt I needed a change. At first I wasn't sure this was a place I wanted to stay. But after I had met Ms. Virginia and Ms. Lorene I knew I wanted to stay. This is a spiritual program. And that's what has kept me here.

Today, I am at peace. I feel joy. I have been clean off herion and cocaine for 90 days as of today. I have completed 11 group sessions in the recovery dynamics program. I attend all the meetings and church services on property. I try to pull alot of God into my system. I am blessed by this program.

Thank you

Cathy

Learning to be a Responsible Mom...Barbara

My name is Barbara, I came to Wayside from Richmond VA on May 5, 2006. My life was unmangeable. I was addicted to crack cocain, couldn't keep a job, and needed to learn how to live with out drugs.

Today I have been clean for 4 months. Me and my daughter live in the family shelter here at Wayside. The recovery program has taught me how to be independant. How to live life with out drugs. It has taught me how to love myself, how to be humble. Wayside has taught me how to be a responsible mom. I love being here.

Prayer Request...Dudley

Hello, my name is Dudley. I am staying at Wayside Christian Mission and I am enrolled in the Recovery Program. I ask for prayer. I do kidney dialysis three day a week. My prayer is that God will bless me with a kidney. Thank you for your prayer.

Respectfully Yours,
Dudley

"Goals"...Mona, Safe Haven

I have good & bad days. My med’s are working an that help’s. I feel better since I came to stay here. I’m getting help, an the staff are willing to help me, they care.

My Goals:

· To get an maintain housing
· Stay in counseling
· Stay on my med’s
· Put my-self first
· Meet new and clean people

I go to counseling, meetings Take care of me, talk to people when I need to.
Taken all my med’s.

Mona