I was assigned to help in the kitchen and in January 2006 was offered a part time, paid position to work in the kitchen on weekends. This eventually lead to full time employment, and I lived and worked at the Mission for the first 2½ years.
When my supervisor left Mission employment, I was promoted from assistant to food manager. This past January marked my fifth year, and I’ve never held a job this long in my life ever.
Coming back to the Mission was the best thing that has happened to me.
I had a relationship with God when I came here but I had been struggling. When I walked into the doors of the Mission for the fourth time, broken in every way possible, it took less than a month for God to get my attention.
I realized that all the things I did being on my own for so many years amounted to nothing and the thing that was missing was God as the foundation. I did something I had never done in my life – read the entire New Testament.
Once He got my attention I just let Him take over. I previously had allowed my situation – lack of job, money, apartment – to take my focus off God. The end result of that was that I lost it all.
Staff members, including my counselor, helped to keep me focused and grounded so that I could keep my attention where it needed to be daily. My boss was my confidante, my teacher and my friend.
It took awhile but I eventually earned the respect of the staff, and this is my second family for what seems like forever now. The kitchen meetings I conduct are about business and about God.
I realize that if God wants me to be that effective leader and teacher, I have to humble myself and become a willing student. I have to be willing to be taught before I can teach. All of it is to God’s glory.
The one thing that helps me on a daily basis to get out of bed in the morning is that I’m pretty much reminded every day of why I’m here – the guys on the kitchen crew who go above and beyond, the staff who thank me for meals, and the volunteers who come here and then leave with their frame of mind changed about the people we serve.
Because of the Mission, my brother and I have restored our relationship – because I’m not the person he previously knew. In addition, I didn’t get my license until I was 30, and now, at age 39, the Mission helped me get a car – my first one ever! I even have my own apartment again.
Washington City Mission has been my home for almost six years, and I can’t think of a better place to be. The Mission just celebrated its 70th year, and here’s to 70 more, God willing.
