It was a bad day--a bad day in a series of bad days for Georgia and her son, Javarree.

 

     Georgia was an alcoholic. She drank every day--as she says, “I had to have a drink the second I woke up.” For the sake of her little boy, Georgia kept trying to beat her urge to drink. She couldn’t always win, though, and that’s when buying alcohol became more important than things like making rent. She actually lost her apartment because she just didn’t have the money left over to pay for it.

 

     One day, when Javarree was three years old and they were living on the streets, he got mad. He was mad that they didn’t have a place of their own--mad that they didn’t have a home. That was a bad day.

 

     And so one day not too long after that, Georgia and Javarree came to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.

 

     Because of the support of friends like you, we could offer them a home--just what Javarree said he wanted. When he’d demanded a home, he was really asking for something deeper, something that he couldn’t really express at such a young age. Javarree wanted stability and consistency.

 

     Georgia knows that she didn’t give him that before. That’s why she’s so enjoyed the classes at MRM on “real life” issues like money and time management. She’s learning how to bring structure to their lives. Also, through the parenting classes, Georgia is discovering how to be a better mom to her son.

 

     Georgia’s finding out how to be better to herself, too. She recently passed the second of four tests she must take to earn her GED. And instead of losing herself in alcohol, she finds her identity in Christ now. Bible studies, counseling and a lot of God’s grace have given her the stability she’d been looking for. “My faith in God is growing so strong. I talk to Him more than I ever did,” she shares.

 

     Javarree and Georgia have had many good days since coming to MRM. Actually, she says, “I’m enjoying every minute here!” But there have been two especially good days for them: Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

     “Last year, Javarree’s birthday was on Thanksgiving. And I was able to get him a Spider-Man cake,” Georgia says proudly. Then for Christmas, Javarree got the Spider-Man stuff he’d asked for, thanks to gifts from donors like you.

 

     Georgia’s smile as she shares these memories is about much more than Spider-Man or cake or the holidays. She beams because she’s able to take better care of her son now--because programs that you support at MRM have given her the tools, encouragement, confidence and ability to do that.

 

     Georgia and Javarree are just one of the many families staying with us at Joy House right now. Thank you for helping us serve them all, giving them a home as they work hard at changing their lives for good!