† Testimonies

Pilar

Pilar grew up in Indio, never thinking she would need the services the Mission offers. She came from an intact family with mom and dad, 6 sisters, and 4 brothers. She is a high school graduate and has had steady employment at the same business for 8 years but three months ago through a series of misfortunes she became homeless with her 13 year old son.

She was raised in a religious home attending Mass with her family and continues to worship in the same church with her son. Pilar has strong family values and deep convictions regarding her responsibilities. After her son was born she continued to live at home with her parents helping with all the household duties, sharing the mortgage payment, and attending to her mother who had a variety of health issues. Two years ago her mother passed away leaving a huge void.

Pilar took over the house payment entirely and was working on applying for a loan to be able to take over the mortgage and put the house in her name. She continued to work at her job, maintain the home and was caretaker for her father. When another family member moved into the house it created too much tension and Pilar chose to move out into an apartment with her son but because she works in an industry that is seasonal the financial burden was too much for her to manage. She was left with little option but to move in with a relative but soon found this was not a suitable situation.

While enrolling her son in a Charter school she learned about Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. Pilar made a call and arrangements were made for her to move into CVRM with her son. When others heard of her situation they tried to persuade her to leave the Mission and move in with them but she reassured them she liked it here and she chose to stay. She is very happy living in a small room she shares with her son, sharing the house with several other women and children because she has found the support, acceptance, help, and encouragement she so appreciates. While staying at our Women's Shelter she has been able to save enough money to get back on her feet.

Through the help of the Women's Shelter personnel she has been approved for an apartment and is looking forward to pursuing her dream of owning a home of her own to provide a stable environment her herself and her son.

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David Frizzell

David is a very talented young man with lots of potential but just a couple of years ago it would not have been so obvious.

His parole officer brought him to Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and David swaggered in sporting a huge attitude. He was obstinate, arrogant and not happy to be here, however, he complied with the rules at least superficially.

David had some religious training when he was younger and had made a commitment to Jesus Christ but never followed through with the promises he had made. When confronted with the gospel once again David knew he needed to surrender his life to the Lord because that was the only way out of the darkness which surrounded him. According to David as soon as he made the decision to follow Christ all sorts of positive things began to happen which David thought were impossible. David said, “It is so amazing what the Lord will do if you just stay obedient and put your faith and trust in Him.” David has truly been transformed!

He was on the fast track to recovery. He earned his G.E.D. he had been working on for years, started taking some college courses at the local community college and returned to his art which had been an important element in his life.

David graduated from the New Life Program at CVRM and became a staff member overseeing the County Overflow Shelter. He has been married to the woman of his dreams for one year and works a second job. He got involved in a strong, healthy church and became a children's ministry leader. He and his wife live in a beautiful home and are continuing to build a life together.

David has truly been transformed!

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Lisa Rittmann

Some people are somewhat reluctant to tell others they live at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission but not Lisa she said, "I'm proud to be a resident of CVRM; it has been a life changing experience for me."

Lisa grew up in the La Jolla area of Southern California. She was the daughter of "functioning" alcoholics and as a result, was the caregiver for her younger brother.

Lisa married young, and had a son. Her workaholic behaviors left little time for her son and her husband. Because of this, her marriage and her relationship with her son fell apart. As a result of this new freedom, her drinking increased, until a catastrophic event resulted in a prison term.

As her time in prison was ending, Lisa searched for a program to enter upon release. She heard about the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. When she called the Mission, instead of the run around she had received checking on other programs, she got straight through to Kitty Killian, Women and Family Shelter Manager. Kitty was very kind and helpful.

Lisa spent the first night in our overflow on the chapel floor. On Sunday, the Program Lead came got her and let her shower for as long as she needed. It was the beginning of being cleansed both inside and out. She joined a 12-month program called New Life.

She had not grown up practicing any religion but at the Mission she was handed a Bible and through many different people was introduced to Jesus. She said, "I now know why they call it New Life. My life has been transformed from one of extreme anxiety to an inner peace. I am in the Word daily and I have learned from the women's program director to not entertain the thoughts that would drag me down."

She does not resemble the person who arrived here approximately 9 months ago. She has a lot more patience with people and can control her responses without self-medicating but rather by applying the Scriptures that she has memorized. You can almost always find her with a smile on her face. She now is proud to hold the position of Program Lead, and is a shining example to the other women as to how God can transform your life completely. She is working her program, working on reconciling with her husband and praying to reunite with her son and his children. We are praying they will embrace a brand new mom and grandma.

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Russ is a California native, the oldest of three, one brother and one sister.

After his parents divorced, Russ and his siblings bounced back and forth between their parents. He married at the age of 20 and became the father of a son Christopher.

The next several years he had a series of jobs: in the space industry, as a fireman, in construction, owning his own business, and professional sports. He married and divorced for the second time, and reinjured his neck from a previous injury. It was during this low point of his life he began using drugs to try an escape from the emotional and physical pain.

He dedicated his life to Christ in a Baptist church in 1998 when a neighbor invited him to church. He worked with the youth for the next several months and was making progress as a construction worker when 911 hit. All work in Oregon dried up and he once again returned to California.

He moved to Beaumont where he had a lucrative job until he was whacked over the head, robbed, and left with nothing. Russ came to the Mission with serious injuries, unable to work, no health benefits, broke, and destitute.

He is not bitter about his experiences which brought him to the Mission. Russ said, "God has used this to bring me closer to Him, I have a better understanding of the Word, it has been a positive experience."

CVRM staff worked to get him the necessary surgery he needed. He has completed the New Life program, is healing well, and will graduate in May. The Lord brought him to the CV Rescue Mission and he found a richer meaning to his life.

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Chase is an energetic, outgoing, intelligent, eleven year old boy with a vibrant personality, typical in everyway except he has endured more than a child his age should have to.

When he popped into my office for the interview he was very excited to tell me he had received an "A" today on his Science test, an accomplishment he was proud to tell me about, this would not have been possible earlier in his young life. He told me his grades suffered badly as he watched the disintegration of his home and family. He shared with me what his life was like before drugs interrupted his "perfect" environment. He lived with attentive parents and a younger brother, in an upscale neighborhood, with several pets, lots of toys, and success in school as a student. His father was a successful business man.

One day while at school Chase was eye witness to an extreme roll-over accident involving a truck and another vehicle. He did not realize it at the time but his father was in the truck. His father was seriously injured in the accident and was given a 50 percent chance of becoming paralyzed if he had the suggested surgery. The pain was excruciating but he opted not to have the surgery and it was during this period the pain medications evolved into a full blown addiction.

Chase began to notice tension building between his parents; they both started to smoke heavily, he was anxious about their health and worried about the friends his dad now spent time with. The fights between his parents escalated, they were doing their own thing and he and his brother were left more and more often in the care of relatives. Separation papers were eventually served and Mom moved back into her parents' home with the boys. She also had acquired a drug addiction, which was unknown to Chase but he certainly was aware of the disastrous effect of that addiction.

A friend actually had told Mom about the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission several years before she actually needed the services. When Mom was ready to get help she entered the program at the Women's Shelter. When Mom's stay was completed she returned to her parents' home where her boys were. On the day she returned home she recommended that her husband come to the Mission. Grandpa loaned him the money to get to Indio and his wife called him many times to encourage him enroute. He reluctantly came and entered into the Men's program.

After his 30 day stay, on October 31, 2005, the program manager allowed the whole family to stay together at the Mission, CVRM made an exception for the family, as this was not a policy rules. Chase went to school across the street from the Mission a fact he tried to hide from his peers. Chase was embarrassed and at the same time grateful to be at the Mission. He noticed his life began to stabilize and his Mom was transforming into her former self. Life was once again returning to normal except that he had not seen his Dad for several months.

Chase along with his parents dedicated themselves to Christ. Mom and Dad now free from drug addiction were reconciled and found a home to reestablish their family. Three years later Dad, Matt Gawn, is CVRM's Men's Program Director with a testimony that is full of encouragement, faith and hope for the men to whom he ministers. Mom is employed and once again making a home where her children are nurtured and guided. The whole family is involved in a local church and endeavoring to mentor others as a living testimony to God's transforming love.

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I believe I finally found the answer to all those years of frustration and anguish.

I was raised in a religious family with 8 siblings, I had a positive mom, who taught me good values and I was baptized as a child. I had a close relationship with all the members of my family but I was influenced in a negative way by members of my family who abused alcohol.

I grew up angry at the world and practically everyone in it. I abused alcohol & drugs and was involved with many other unsavory activities. I was at war with myself, frustrated with God and searching for answers.

I don't believe I am here at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission by accident, I believe I am here by divine appointment. I was running, on my way to nowhere, when I was picked up by a motorist who gave me a ride to Indio and suggested I come to CVRM. The Mission was a God send! The faith-based, spiritual format used in the programs helped me to find the answers I was looking for. I made a commitment to Jesus Christ in March of 2008. Since then I have peace of mind, I am learning to forget the past, I have forgiven myself and those who offend me. I understand trials and tribulations come to everyone and they have a purpose in my growth. I am seeking full-time employment, taking care of all the outstanding issues, re-establishing myself, as a clean and sober contributing member of society. My desire is to give back perhaps in a ministry capacity in the future. II Corinthians 1:3-4 is my motto, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." "The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is a place of miracles."

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Four months ago she was homeless.

Tracy is a beautiful 21 year old single mom with a captivating smile and two equally beautiful little girls. She came to the mission trying to find safety for herself and her children.

Drug addition and alcohol have affected Tracy from the beginning of her life until the present, although she personally has made the choice not to use. She was raised in the home of her aunt and uncle because her biological mom had issues with addictions and she never knew her biological father. In her foster home she was not altogether isolated from drugs and alcohol. Her foster sister was killed in a car accident driven by a drunk driver.

She went to Hawaii in an effort to connect with her biological mom but when she arrived it was not a good situation. She eventually ended up in the desert with her two children having no place to live and no way to support herself.

Four months ago she was homeless with no transportation and needed a safe place for herself and her children. Shortly after arriving at the mission, one of the volunteers reintroduced her to Christ. Since arriving here she has regained full legal custody of her children and is looking into getting her GED and pursuing a career in cosmetology. Tracy realizes she needs counseling to overcome some issues created by her past but she is working on those. She is determined to instill in her children all of the love, values, and security possible!

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The Mission has shown me how to be honest with others and myself

I was born in New Jersey and moved to California when I was 3 years old. My parents got divorced shortly after our arrival here. Being raised in a single parent home, we didn't have rules or boundaries.

I was lost, lonely and didn't have any faith in the Lord. I came to the Mission because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I entered the CVRM New Life Program January 16, 2008.

I was saved in February, 2008 and then I was baptized on Easter Sunday. I am now mending fences with my family, especially my daughter.

The Mission has shown me how to be honest with others and myself. It has also shown me the way of front line ministry. Most importantly it has reunited me with my daughter and allows her to come stay with me every two weeks.

I am enrolled in a GED class that CVRM offers. I plan on returning to my previous profession in healthcare. I am very blessed that God put me on the path that brought me to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission.

Finally I know God has a purpose for me.