For Jeannie Karaiskos, a bad marriage and a runaway daughter proved to be a lethal combination for her living situation. So overwhelming was the financial and emotional toll that she lost her apartment and began the arduous (and humbling) process of trying to locate a transitional living facility.

Only three of the 20 organizations Jeannie contacted for help bothered to return her call. One of them was a transitional living facility by the name of His House, and one was the Orange County Rescue Mission. Jeannie was able to secure temporary housing with His House, and set up an appointment to meet with OCRM Sr. Chaplain Ray Green about acceptance into our Strong Beginnings Program.

“It was the sweetest moment,” was Jeannie's description of her first meeting with Ray when they discussed her predicament and a plan for getting out of it. “I found a world of resources,” says Jeannie, “but the most important resource was that I now had people praying for me and that were concerned about what was going on in my life.”

Jeannie had always been very self-reliant, and was therefore reluctant to ask for help, but Ray seemed to intuitively anticipate her needs. He, along with George Mulak in the Technology Education Vehicle, and Daniel Saunders in the War on Hunger Vehicle, teamed up to supply those things that Jeannie had formerly taken for granted: food, toiletries, auto repair, counsel, job placement assistance, etc. “Having someone there for the little things is what helped me to overcome...” she recalls.

Now, thanks to the assistance of the Strong Beginnings Program, Jeannie is in her own apartment and is trusting the Lord to remedy the ongoing conflict she has with her daughter. Her coworkers who are aware of the problem want to know how Jeannie can remain so optimistic, to which she replies, “Do you realize that every day is a gift? I choose to treasure each day that I have.” She's back in school now, emotionally stronger and looking for permanent work.

When Jeannie came to OCRM, she was distraught and depressed, unable to see any reason to hope. But she was raised in a Christian home, and has received regular reminders from her friends at the Orange County Rescue Mission of God's faithfulness to keep His promises. Now she looks forward to a brighter future. She just needed a “hand up” to pull her out of the despondency that was blurring her vision.