Wayside's Homeless Chronicles

Thanksgiving at the Mission

2008-12-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

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

2006-09-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

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

"I'm feeling fine"...Jovonne

2006-08-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

I’m feeling fine. My goals are to get my bill paid off and to move into an apartment. I have being do great and school studing my math. I have also been out everyday looking around for housing that goes by income. So far I have been put on a waiting list and I have been offered an apartment where my grandmother lives as long as I have a payment agreement with housing Authority. This Friday I have custody court about my son which I have big hopes of seeing him everyday for the rest of my life so another goal of mine is to get my son back. Also Friday I plan on going to get an apartment.
Jovonne

Moving from Shelter to Shelter - Pat

2006-08-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am feeling much better since I talked to the doctor and taking my med. My goals is to get me a place to live for me and my childrens. Go back to college and take a classes about drug & alcohol. Find me a church to go too. It not much going on with me I very depressed the way things turn out with me I very depressed the way things turned out with me and my family situation. Another shelter told me that if I complete the program they would help me with my housing and getting custody of my childrens. My daughter live with me at the other agency for the last 6 month. My son came every week with me. But once again I trusted the progress and it let me down. But I have learned in AA no matter what happen I don’t have to drink and drug again. I am very shame that I have to keep moving from shelter to shelter. But I grateful to be here and not out there in the devil world. I know there is a power greater then me and I know my higher powder got me here for a reason.

Pat

Safe Haven Client Plans to Move Home - Edith

2006-08-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am feeling good. Since I have an apartment to move in to go to be moving sometime soon and I am looking forward to moving before I came here I was stress and depress and now that I have something to look for it make me feel good so good. And I also just got my Income back that may me feel better then before, cause been with out It is easy to make it and I feel real bless each and every day.

My goal is when I move I am going to go back to vocation training so
I can say busy doing the day for about three hours a day and work on lessons
That I work to keep me busy and keep building my goal up around me and keep building it up day by day and make some other goal plains so I have more then one.

Edith
(The "Safe Haven" is a shelter for mentally ill women staying at Wayside)

Getting it Together Takes a lot of Work - Janice

2006-08-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

HI MY NAME IS JANICE,
I HAVE BEEN HERE AT WAYSIDE SINCE AUG.2005.
I AM IN THE RECOVERY PROGRAM. SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MY SOBERITY DATE AND
ATTEND THE TWELVE STEP PROGRAM TO HELP LEARN ABOUT ALCOHOLISM. I FEEL MY CHANCES
OF STAYING SOBER ARE GOOD. ALSO SINCE I'VE
CAME HERE I HAVE PARTICPATED IN THE GALLERY,
FINISHED THE TWELVE STEPS, RECIEVED A CERTIFICATE FOR A VIDO CLASS, PARENTING CLASS AND A DOMESTIC VOILANCE CLASS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE AMENDS TO MY FAMILY AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM. I GO TO MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS ALSO. I HAVE WITNESS HOW WAYSIDE HELPS PEOPLE IN NEED. I HOPE TO FINISH AFTER-CARE AND BEGIN TO LIVE LIFE ON LIFES TERMS.

Janice

"Humbling Myself" - Myron

2006-08-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Myron. I'M here at the Mission, Wayside has really given me a chance to live and get free with my self. This week has really been hard for me because I had to humble myself and come back to the program after having compliance with the program it really bother me to have to walk threw these doors but I felt this was were my foundation was and the Love of my brothers and sisters. I REALLY have so much GRATITUDE to say about Wayside. THANKS ALOT WAYSIDE!!!
MYRON

"Sober for Almost a Year" - Mary Beth

2006-08-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have been here at Wayside in the Recovery Program since October 2005. This has been a very hard process. Changing your way of thinking after you have been thinking that way for so long is hard.

I have been an accountant for 13 years. I have worked for the State of Tennessee as an Investor Reporting Accountant along with US Bank and did grant work for Girl Inc.

I am in the choir (I sing soprano). That has been a blessing.

I am hoping to start working in my field of work soon.

I will celebrate 365 days clean on August the 23. I couldn't have done it without God and Ms. Virginia.

Thank you

Mary Beth

Making Progress with Family Issues-Angela

2006-07-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

As of today I am going through a lot. I have four kids trying to get back in my custody have a son that's 13 years old that is really mad at the world right now and he is taking it out on everybody and at the same time I have three others that's really ready to come home have a sick mom and I'm going get recovery at the same time. I have been here at Wayside 71/2 months it has been really hard being here knowing that I have 4 kids and a mother that really needs me. I worked out at the warehouse until I was made security and starting today I became a team leader. This makes me feel good that Ms. Virginia has seen some changes in me that I haven't seen in myself. I am still concerned about my current child support obligations. But I just have to give it to God

Sincerely

Angela

Recovery Requires Tuff Love

2006-07-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

My name is Dudley I want to take this time to say thank you Wayside, This is truly a blessing for me Wayside has given me a chance to get back what I let the Devil steal from me. Mr. Moseley and his staff have treated me so good, My Plan is to finish the program with the lords help. Also Mrs. Virginia I love her, she has helped me so much. She’s tuff and hard but she’s fair, and everything she does she does with love, I thank my god everyday for Wayside, I am learning how to live life on life terms. Again thank you Jesus for Wayside, May the lord continue to smile on you Wayside Christian Mission.
Love,
Respectfully yours,Dudley

"Today I struggle with getting my son back." - Melissa

2006-07-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

My name is Melissa I have been at wayside for 10 months. I have completed phase 1 of the program and I am getting ready to leave wayside. Today I struggle with getting my son back.

When I was getting high the drugs were more important to me I thought if I gave my son to his dad and saw him on the weekends it would be enough,but as my addition got worse I just stopped seeing him all together. I did not want him to see me as messed up as I was. It got so bad that when I did have him he would find my drugs and the things I used drugs with because I had been up for so long I had pasted out.

Just recently my mother had to take temporary custody of son as a direct result of his father's active addiction. It has been difficult for me knowing that this has been going on while I have been here, but I knew I had to get myself together before I could be any good to him. I have been feeling a lot of helplessness towards this situation. I have had a lot of guilt and remorse because of the things I have done and even things that I have not done.

This program has taught me to forgive myself,let go of the past and work toward a better future. It feels good having 10 months clean I never thought I could do it, in fact I did not want to be here I had to be by the court. Today I am no longer on paper and am free to leave but choose to stay to make sure that when I do leave it is in gods time and I am ready to handle life on life's terms. I know longer have the desire to use alcohol or drugs. I want to stay clean and sober and have a better life.

Soon I will be leaving to take care of some legal problems I have been running from for 10 years. I have hired an attorney and ill find out Thursday what ill be facing, next weakened I go home to face whatever it might be.I wont have to look over my shoulder anymore and ill be able to live with out fear of a warrant.When I get that straight I will fight for custody of my son. I know whatever happens it is god's will and I am able to accept that today.

"... I would not trade my recovery program for any thing or any place else." - Regina

2006-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Im Regina Frierson and I feel the program here is helping me alot. I know there will be days that I will feel down, like missing my children, dealing with different folks chareter defects, as well as mine, but I know no matter what comes my way I must trust God to bring me through whatever Im going through today.

Ive been in the R.D programe since May 19,2006 and I would not trade my recovery program for any thing or any place else.Ive tried other programs and I wasnt comfortable with my surroundings.Im so very Greatful for You and Ms.V for allowing me A chance to recover. MR.MOSELY all I want to say is THANK YOU,hope to meet you soon. MAY GOD KEEP BLESSING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.