My Hopes and Dreams
by “Theresa”
Before I was accepted into Bridge of Hope BuxMont, I was in a desperate situation. Like most of us in situations like these, we find ourselves feeling hopeless and scared. Being at the end of the line and having had exhausted all avenues, I truly feared the worst. I had four children and was then 7 months pregnant, and I was afraid I would lose them. As the days grew closer to my due date, I found myself praying harder and harder. After several weeks of praying and crying for help, I asked for a miracle. After making my last phone call for help, I thought it was over, and I would have to give up my children that I so desperately love. My children are the reason I left an abusive relationship and was now without a home or an income to support them.
After giving up all control of my situation and giving it to God, I received a phone call from my sister who told me about this wonderful organization that helps women in my situation. My niece’s school had done a service project for this agency and that is how my sister heard about it. My sister, with the utmost faith in God, gave me the telephone number for Bridge of Hope BuxMont. In my helplessness and never-ending faith, I decided to call. I spoke with two very nice women on the phone whom are now my very good friends.
To make a long story short, Bridge of Hope BuxMont helped me save my family and now I have an apartment where my family is safe and I am working in a job I love. Bridge of Hope is also helping me achieve my long term goals by giving me tools I need to become financially secure, to have a profession, and someday buy a home. I want to thank every one in Bridge of Hope and all the volunteer-mentors who are helping me reach the goals I thought were only once a dream, but will soon be a reality.
"Theresa" is named used for confidentiality.
Excerpt from participant speech from Raising Hope 2005
Hi, my name is Gloria. I came to learn about Bridge of Hope BuxMont from a newspaper article I read about a year and a half ago. I thought this might be a good thing for me. My husband has a problem with alcohol and drugs and it was taking an emotional toll on all of us. I wanted to leave at other times but could never find anyone with the resources to help me and my children. One day I went to my pastor. I told him I couldn't stay much longer in this relationship and asked him for advice. That's when he said he had been in contact with Bridge of Hope and that was a ministry our church was going to offer. A feeling of hope instantly rushed over me. I told him I would like to be the first candidate for this ministry. So he put me in touch with Nancy. It was Bridge of Hope BuxMont who finally put their faith in me and I was accepted into the program in October of 2004. Nancy has worked with me week after week to ensure I get my budget intact. She has also helped me gain more self-confidence and has made me realize that I matter to God! She has also taught me that this program works only if I allow it to work, meaning that I need to allow my mentors to help me out. That is a really tough thing for me to do since I'm used to doing everything by myself. I do have to admit though that my mentors have made this transition a lot easier.
Through Bridge of Hope BuxMont, I am attending the ASSETS classes held at Norristown New Life Mennonite Church. I have a house cleaning service now and my hope is to have two to four people working for me within the next year. These classes are really showing me what it takes to run a business so I'm glad I have the opportunity to attend.
It was with God's help that an apartment big enough for my family and reasonably priced became available in late December. On January 7th, my children and I moved with the help of my mentors and a couple good friends.
I have experienced such a feeling of peace since I am out of that relationship I was in. I can't say thank you enough to Bridge of Hope BuxMont for giving me and my children the opportunity for a better life. I also want to say thank you to all my mentors and friends who have supported me through this.