Special from the Adams Rescue Mission

By Lex McMillan

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

She is just 34 years old, but the past two years have taken a toll.  Although never married, she was in a relationship with a man she had met online.  In the early months of that relationship, she describes it as “living on the street,” drinking and doing drugs.  When she got pregnant, she stopped drinking alcohol or taking drugs.  After her baby was born, she and her boyfriend lived with his father, but his father kicked his son out of the house because of his drinking and drug use.

Not long after her boyfriend had left his father’s house, her baby’s grandfather began “coming on” to her.  She refused and left the home with her baby.  She went to her mother and stepfather’s house near Gettysburg.  Shortly afterwards, she was called to court by her former boyfriend’s father, her little boy’s grandfather, seeking custody of the baby.  Despite her testimony about the grandfather’s inappropriate conduct, the judge awarded the grandfather “temporary guardianship.”  She was entitled to unsupervised weekly visits, but the grandfather wouldn’t allow them.  She didn’t see her baby for four months.

Although she has a good relationship with her mother and stepfather, she wanted to live on her own.  Her mother told her about the Agape House, so she applied and was accepted last March.  With assistance from Agape House staff, who went with her to a custody hearing, in May she was granted sole custody of her baby.  The baby’s father can visit, but he is living out of state and has an outstanding warrant in Pennsylvania for unlawful use of a credit card.  She’s not sure whether her former boyfriend will turn himself in on the required date.  In the meantime, he’s told her that he’s still drinking.

She brought her beautiful little boy with her to meet with me.  He has large, brown eyes that seem to be taking everything in.  Initially shy, he offered to share his animal crackers and later began waving at me as he peeked from behind his mother.

She is deeply grateful for the loving care she has received at the Agape House and calls the director, Jennifer Punchard, her “guardian angel.”  She says she doesn’t know where she would be without Agape House and says it’s so much more than a shelter, more like a home for now.

She wants to work and find a more permanent home for herself and little boy, but she is caught in the common “Catch 22” of not being able to afford childcare without having a job and not being able to get a job without having childcare.  She has a job offer waiting if she can figure out a childcare solution.

The Adams Rescue Mission exists to proclaim the passion of Jesus toward the hungry, homeless, abused, and addicted; to accelerate recovery and restoration to the least, last, lonely, and lost.  Lex McMillan is a board member of ARM.

To support the Mission: http://www.adamsrescuemission.org/donate-now.