August 2015 Newsletter

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Rescued From Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is the number one reason mothers and children, as well as single women, flee from their living situation to find safety at Samaritan Inn. They are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, both nationally and locally. Some missions already have more women and children than men; we are fast on that same course. The problem goes beyond an economic recession. Mental illness and substance abuse are issues. There is a decline in the value of marriage. Family and social networking are giving way to greater dependence on government and nonprofit organizations. People are losing their faith.

Amy made the classic marriage mistake. She said, “I thought that I could change him. I thought I loved him. I could rescue him.” Now in hindsight, it was more of a codependent relationship. Each person thought their marriage would build each other up, but the reality is that they were a drain to one another. It smoldered for ten years. By then, they had a child, Ezekiel, who is six years old. And indeed, he was in the middle of the parental turmoil, even the final relationship breaking event.

The child’s father had an alcohol and drug addiction. At first, he hid the problem. Amy was a little naïve. He was verbally and physically abusive to both his wife and son. In time, the problem came out in the open, so much so, that the neighbors could hear it, even the apartment manager. They were evicted. He knew their relationship was over. Under the influence of some mind altering substance, he foolishly and desperately took Ezekiel and fled. Perhaps, he was trying to keep a relationship, that he could still cling to and control. He went to a very familiar place, under the outside stairs of their church. They spent the night there. Ezekiel was safe; his father was in trouble for kidnapping and drugs; Amy was suddenly a single mom. They stayed with a friend for a couple of weeks, until over occupancy laws caused them to have to move. She called Samaritan Inn, but we were full. However, they were able to get in the next day. She said, “I went to Samaritan Inn with anxiety and discouragement. I thought we would get beds in a large, open dorm, but I got a room with my son. I walked in the front door and panicked. Tanya was sitting at the desk. She was very helpful, answering all my questions. She was very upbeat and made me feel welcomed. I had no job, no money. We stayed three months. We met a lot of nice people and made friends.”

The year before she was married, Amy became a Christian. She went through the whole, difficult ten year marriage as a believer. But, she had become rather discouraged. She said, “If I was not at Samaritan Inn, I probably would have lost my way, spiritually dried up. Chapel kept me going, uplifted. I felt hope that I would get my life together. I was able to talk about God with people openly.” Ezekiel learned a Bible verse and is still able to quote it months later. He said that he likes Jesus, singing and the playground. He remembers asking Linda, our manager, to pray with him after he received his immunization shots for school.

Amy and Ezekiel have moved out of Samaritan Inn. She has been working a job for eight months and has stopped all government assistance programs. She said that we helped her and her son get through the hardest time in their lives. And they are active in their local church. Rescued!