She is even volunteering to help out with projects that we are doing. She is still guarded about certain parts of her life. That is alright, we are not here to pry into their lives, instead we are here to be available if they choose to share and then support them.  Our goal is to provide life skills to help them become self sufficient.

When your life is filled with chaos, it is reflected in all facets of your life. So it makes sense that the financial part of your life will follow. Many of our women need help with money management. In the following two weeks we will have a guest who will instruct the women on how to do basic budgeting, how to create a savings plan, and other financial lessons. Our women are looking forward to this class because it is a chance to start getting a grip on their lives.

In the session, “Silver Boxes”, the ladies are shown how their words can affect others. They will discover how the words they choose to express to others could determine that person’s destiny. 

As the ladies continue to strip away the negative images of themselves, they are being built up with the encouraging help of Joshua Resource Center.  We use the materials from the book Silver Boxes,  by Florence Littauer, to challenge the ladies to communicate their words to others as silver boxes with silver ribbons around them.  It is a good reminder to everyone that we should always speak positive and uplifting words to improve our relationships.

Today, after the program with JRC, Joan is a different person. She is confident and self sufficient. Her world has changed with the help of JRC. She is now working on her college degree and has been restored to her family. How did they change happen? Because of her commitment to improving herself and the empowerment she received from JRC!

Today we finished the “Healed Without Scars” self esteem program and what a change in lives.

”By faith, you must capture a vision of yourself as released from the place where you have been anchored in your emotions, a vision of yourself healed  without scars from the wounds of life, a vision of yourself fulfilling your purpose and living in God’s provision” David G. Evans.

That message has been received by the ladies. There is a peace and a new hope in their mannerisms.  One of the ladies expressed that she feels like a true child of God and sees herself worthy to receive His favor.  Hope is all about wanting something better in the future, but if an abuser is continually telling you that you don’t matter and that you don’t deserve a bright future, you begin to believe it. Freedom comes when the light of God’s truth is shone into that dark place and by faith you begin to see a vision of yourself whole in Christ.

“Working at JRC is like God sits me down in front of a stage and lets me see what He’s doing” that is what one of our volunteers  said. We all find satisfaction in watching JRC participants’ blossom as they gain new life skills and self-confidence. Beth has been at treat to watch. She doesn’t seem like the same lady that was here just a few weeks ago. I understand there is a long way to go, but to watch it happen before your eyes is awesome.

She is back and looking good. The first thing she did today was give me a hug. She said that she felt love here. She said she was seeing things differently. Even though her boyfriend didn’t cherish her, she was seeing that God cherished her. And even though she messed up, He would still cherish her forever. What a break through. She told me that she prayed to God and that she was at peace.

Beth didn’t seem too happy week. She is still with her boyfriend who doesn’t like it that she is coming here. But, Beth is still here. She said that this was her favorite time of the week. She loves the class and would come back no matter what. We are all hoping that we see her next week. We don’t want to see her lose ground. We feel that she does want to be self sufficient.

Beth is slowly coming out of her shell. She smiled and even laughed today at one of the silly jokes someone shared. The other ladies are including her in the group and she likes it. I am glad that she is in this class about emotional healing. I am beginning to see a change in her self-esteem. She is starting to wear nicer clothes and she has tied her hair back so we can see her pretty face. I believe that God is doing an inside work and we’re seeing the results.

Today we started the “Healed Without Scars” book again. This book is a great book and has touched many of our clients. Beth, the lady that we featured in the postcard mailing did come back to us. She walked into group the beginning of the year. She is a very quite lady who sits in the back. Sometimes I make eye contact and I can see the hurt in her eyes.  It will take time I know from experience, but God is patient with us so I can be patient with her and be there when she is ready to share.