Lisa's* Story

On August 21st, my son and I flew to the U.S. [from our home in Puerto Rico] and settled in with my cousin in Ephrata. My first job was to register my son for school. The social worker... came to visit and she gave me a packet of information about different services that were available in the community. A Homes of Hope brochure was included and it caught my attention.

Several weeks later when the social worker came back for another home visit..., I asked her about Homes of Hope and told her I was interested in signing up for a temporary home. She called the Homes of Hope office and I made an appointment. [At my appointment, I was told] I qualified to be part of the program [but], along with us, three other families were waiting for the two available houses. Homes of Hope would decide which families would get them. Fortunately, Homes of Hope had approved us to be one of the families to move into one of the two available houses... I thanked God for this miracle.

The first time I met my mentors... they were very kind and welcoming to me. They explained that they would meet with me once a week to help me with getting things I need and a job...

[Several months later] I heard back from Ephrata Hospital that they wanted me to come in for an interview which turned into a full-time cleaning job. I told the hospital that I eventually wanted to be a nurse and they said that after I worked six months they would begin training me to be an assistant and help pay for nurses training if I wanted to pursue it... On March 17 I began my new career at Ephrata Hospital. You cannot imagine how hopeful I felt when I received my first paycheck. God had given me another miracle.

A Homes of Hope volunteer who got to know my son while fixing a window shade became my angel of mercy. He found an apartment close to the hospital so I could walk to work. It was almost next door to my cousin. He made it possible for me to get into the apartment by co-signing with me. My mother is here with us now because of this volunteer. Another miracle...

Just 8 months after I decided to come to the U.S.... my son and I moved into an apartment furnished by Homes of Hope...

In Puerto Rico I didn’t believe that miracles happen, but since I connected with Homes of Hope I now believe in miracles. I thank Homes of Hope for helping to make miracles happen for us. Our journey of hope is God’s story.