January 2019 Newsletter

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Mission Launching Pad

Our country is experiencing a syndrome of adults not leaving their parents’ homes in the customary time frame, and continuing to return home again. Its called “failure to launch,” inspiring a popular movie by the same name, because it struck such a cord with so many. An unusual number of adults not launching today have college degrees and some have succeeded as athletes. Its more psychology than ability; yet, there is a shortage of affordable housing. Still, doting parents can handicap a child, especially if he has some special need already. They may not be firm enough with expectations, yet afraid of their child not being ready or able to be independent.

Parents can be overprotective, considering it love. A child can have a low level of motivation, low self-esteem, a disability. Disappointments can result in having lower expectations. While some appear to not have their careers or social life significantly affected, others struggle with depression and addiction. Any combination of issues with family members can affect a person, even transferring them between parent and child. Still, some families consider it a blessing to be together longer. Voluntarily or forcibly a person can leave home at any age, some becoming homeless.
Whatever Josh’s life experience had been, for we have no input from his parents, at 40-years-old he ventured out on his own with no means of support. He said, his parents left it up to him. It was time; he knew it; he did it. In a desperate attempt to find his own way in life, he hit the streets, camped out a few nights, hitchhiked to the Mission. His action was a combination of floundering in life and the bravery to take a risk. He has achieved a GED. He has never married, has no children, and has no plans for either. Josh’s situation is not a generational cycle from his parent’s behavior. Addictions are not an issue in their family. His father works in manufacturing and his mother in retail. No matter the reason, home was not going to be his launching pad to an independent life. Josh was in good company, the Mission is a temporary home to many that did not launch from their own homes. We are their new launching pad, starting point, motivation, incentive, force against resistance. We impose requirements on every person using Mission facilities. We launch people; we do not enable nor coddle them.

Josh went through every phase of all our programs. For a few months he slept in our dormitory and did some day labor in the community, hoping a permanent job would develop. Then he joined our New Life Program, looking for a better opportunity. He started in our Pipeline, a phase before classes begin, to orient him to a different living area and work assignment. Then he went through phases one through three, taking classes in Bible study and recovery (which includes destructive behaviors like codependency, isolation, and any negative action or emotion used to cope). He also had life skill classes, counseling, and goal setting. Josh said, “I had never used a computer. Now I am able to use the computer at the Employment Office.” In our program, he typed his own resume. His work assignment was in our Thrift Store, developing job skills and learning to work with other people. He liked pricing clothing in that position. After about one year, he graduated from the classes into phase four, the job search stage. He continued to work in our store. Filling out applications and doing interviews was a struggle with no results. Even with our men’s manager helping to complete applications and setting up interviews, success seemed out of reach. Sometimes, it is who you know. Another Mission resident, who had been through our program and is renting a room here now, is a local restaurant manager. He place Josh into a dishwashing job. For the first time in too long, Josh has a job and is doing well at it. Employment graduated him out of our program. After a few weeks, he had the money saved to rent a room in our Transitional Housing Program.
Without faith in the Lord, life is just motion. Chapel is a part of Mission life, whether in the dormitory, program, or renting a room. Josh has been to many such services here. He chose to participate in group Bible studies in our program, asking and answering questions. His understanding, faith and hope have grown. He has been encouraged and uplifted, especially when going through a difficult transition in his life.

Josh has launched to independence. He is content the with success that he has achieved. Indeed, he has become an example to others.