RIPPED AWAYJonathan’s Heartache Leads Him Home“

“I was alone in a room by myself… dying slowly.”

Jonathan had a good life growing up in California. He loved football, track, wrestling and theatre. He regularly attended church with his parents, devout Christians, and was active in his church youth group. Surrounded by extended family and lifelong friends, Jonathan felt secure and happy.

But in two simple words, Jonathan’s idyllic life was shattered.

Rescue Portland July 2013

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PDXMission.org/Email

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P.O. Box 3713Portland, OR 97208-3713 503-MISSION (647-7466)

www.PortlandRescueMission.org

Mission NeedsSocks are a constant need

for men and women on the streets.

We also need:•Newundergarments•Blankets•Backpacks•Deodorant(sprayorsolid)•Disposablerazors•Toothbrushes•Toothpaste•Travel-sizetoiletries•Jeans•LifeRecoveryBibles(NLT)•Yardequipment:mowers,weed-eaters,leafblowers,gardensoilandpeagravel

PleasebringdonationstotheBurnside Shelter at 111 W. Burnside, Portland, 24 hours a day,7daysaweek.Short-termstreetparkingisusuallyavailableat our front door.

I’mastrongswimmer.Duringmyhighschoolyears, Iworkedasalifeguard.Thefirstthingyoulearninlifeguardtrainingishowtoavoidbeingdrownedbythepersonyouarerescuing.Whensomeoneisdrowning,theyareinutterpanic.Theyhavereachedthepointwheretheyaresofranticandfearful,theywillgrabontoand drag their rescuer under the water with them.

JonathanandGinawerejustthatdesperate. Theyfelttheacheofalifestrippedbarebyabuseandaddiction.Likesomanypeoplewhocometothe

Missionforhelp,theywereflailinginalast-ditcheffortjusttobreatheforonemoreday.Theaddictionstheyclungtoforreliefonlycausedthemtosinklowerintohopelessness.

Insomanyways,theministryofPortlandRescueMissionisoneoflifeanddeath.Yoursupporthelpsprovidelife-givingcareforemergencyneedslikefood,shelterandclothing–restoringdignityandphysicalhealth.Andyouhelpoffersoul-restoringcareforheartsbrokenbydeeprelationalwounds,devastatingaddictionsandself-destructivebehavior.

Ourworktogetherishard,butrewarding.Wehavethegreatopportunitytojumpintothewaterinaperson’sgreatestcrisistoofferahandofrescue–God’sgraceinaction–toproviderest,safetyandhealing.Andmanylivesaresaved.

ThankyouforbeingGod’shandofrescue,

Eric Bauer ExecutiveDirector

P.S.–SummertimegivingisoftenatitslowestinJulyandAugust.Buttheneeds of homeless men, women and children continue to rise in Portland. Yourextrasupporttodaywouldbesuchablessing.Thanks.

Drowning In Grace

More than a meal. More than a bed. GIVE HOPE.

Imagine spending your birthday wandering the streets, no friends or family in sight, unsure of whether you will even have a meal to eat.

We want these hurting people to know they are not forgotten by hosting a Birthday Party for the Homeless.

You can help by sending a birthday card with a donation, to bring a smile to a hurting person and to help provide nutritious meals and other care.

Learn more on our website: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Birthday

Birthday Party for the HomelessSend a Birthday Card, Bring A Smile To A Hurting Person

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WatchJonathan’sstorytohearmoreabouthispathtohope. See more at www.PortlandRescueMission.org/JonathanStory

Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.

Your gift today brings hurting people like Jonathan healing and hope for the future. Thank you.

“We’removing,”Jonathan’sparentstoldhim. Thethoughtofleavingeveryoneheknewandlovedfeltlike a death sentence.

ThemovetoOregondidn’tgowell.Jonathandidn’tfeelacceptedbythe“good”kidsatschool.“Thekidswhoreachedouttomealsofeltexcluded,”hesays.“Theonesmakingtheirownrules,thosearethepeopleIgravitatedtoward.”Hischoicetofollowtheirinfluencewouldwreckthenext16yearsofJonathan’slife.

Alcoholatpartiesledtomarijuana.Thenheroinandcocaine.Jonathanmanagedtograduatefrombothhighschoolandcollege.Yethewasanythingbutsuccessful.

“Ilostalotofjobs.Ilostseveralgirlfriends.Iwreckedmycar,”saysJonathan.“Isacrificedfriendstomylifestyle.Ilostcredibilitywithmyfamily.IreallytunedGodoutofmylife.”

Thedrugswerenolongerahabit,butafull-blown,life-consumingaddiction.“Isoldeverysinglepossession–theywerecommoditiestobetradedfordrugs.”

“Icommittedcrimesandbecameafelon.Ididn’tcare,”saysJonathan.“Itwentfrommakingmyselfhappytodoingwhateverittooktosurvivetheday.”

Jonathanendeduphomeless.Heneversleptonthestreets,butalwaysfoundsomeone’scouchorfloortocrashon.Still,he’dneverfeltsobrokenorutterlyalone.“Therewasnooneleftformetoturnto,”saysJonathan.

Asayoungteen,JonathanhadonceembracedalifeoffollowingChrist.Nowweakanddesperate,hecriedouttoGodagain.

Jonathanwashumbledasheapproachedhisparents.He’dbrokentheirtrustsomanytimesbefore.ButnowtheygladlyhelpedhimjointheNewLifeMinistryatPortland Rescue Mission.

“InalloftheotherprogramsI’vetried,Godwas neverapartofit,”Jonathansays.“Here,communityis abigpieceofyourrecovery,learningtolivewithpeopleandsharelifewiththem.Everybodyhasadesiretogrow…witheachotherandwithGod.”

AsGodhealsthepaininJonathan’slife,theneedfordrugshasfallenaway.Jonathanisemergingintoabrandnewlife.“I’mataplacewhereI’mhealthy.Ihavethetrustofmyfamilyandfriends–peoplelikemeandwantmearound,”hesays.“Iusedtospendalotoftimelivingfortodaywithoutthinkingabouttomorrow.NowIliveforthefuture.Godisthecornerstoneofmylife.”

Jonathan looks forward

to a deeper relationship with

God, and a life focused on future

hope instead of day-to-day

searching.

“Show me a way out of this and I’ll take it. You win.

If you open the door, I will walk through it.” Something

inside him whispered, “Call your parents.”

RIPPED AWAYJonathan’s Heartache Leads Him Home

(Continued from front cover)

Tears Of Joy Gina Learns To Trust Again

More women like Gina need your help to find healing from abuse. Thanks for your gift today.

WatchGina’svideotoseehergrowthandjoyfulspirit. See more at www.PortlandRescueMission.org/GinaStory

Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.

“Thingshappentoyouasakidthatspillover intoyouradulthood,”saysGina.“Iwas11when Iwasmolested.Fromthenon,Ididn’ttrustmen.”

Oneofsixkids,Gina’shomelifewasrough. Emotionalandphysicalabusewerejustapartoflife. Shequicklylearnedtofendforherselfandholdotherpeopleatadistance.Shewasfilledwithangershedidn’tunderstand –“Iwouldjustlashout,”sheremembers.

Withinayearofbeingmolested,atjust12yearsold,Ginastartedsneakingbeeratpartiesandsmokingatschool.“Itjustnumbedallmypain.Ididn’thavetothinkaboutallthestuffI’dgonethrough.”

Throughrecoverycounseling,Biblestudyand prayer,GodisrestoringthebrokenplacesofGina’sheart.“Ithastakenmethislongtorealizethatthepeopleherehaveonlyonemotive–thattheycareaboutmeandtheyloveme,”shesays.“I’venoticedthatI’vechanged.Ifeelpositive,upliftedandhappier.Godhasgivenmeastrongerrelationshipwithmykids,whoIlovedearly.”

“Shepherd’sDoorisexactlythat–adoor,”saysGina.Shecamethroughthatdoorwithshatteredpiecesofabrokenlife.Andnowshe’swalkingbackintolife, foreverchanged.

“I was crying the first couple weeks that I was here,” Gina remembers. “I still do, but it’s not from being sad, it’s from

being happy.”

Asayoungteen,Ginamovedontomarijuana.Afterbreakinganankleat18,shebeganabusingVicodin.Asanadult,shegotintometh.“Myaddictionwentthroughtheroof,”Ginarecalls.“ItwasallsothatIdidn’thaveto feelanything.”

Ginahadperiodsofsobriety,butherlifewasstillfilledwithturmoil.“ForseveralyearswhileIwasmarriedandhadmykids,Ididn’tdodrugsoralcohol.ButIwasfilledwithangerandrage.Iabusedmyhusband,thenlaterlefthimforarelationshipwhereIwasabused.”ThenGinahadanabortion,whichweighedonherheavily.Notlongafter,herboyfriendcommittedsuicide.Thepainwastoogreat.“InumbedmyheartachewithanythingIcouldget.”

Lifebecameanemptyexistencefromonedaytothenext.Onaparticularlybadday,shegotincrediblydrunkandtriedtodrownherselfintheocean.“Mylifewasahopelessfeeling,likeyou’retryingtograspontosomethingandyou’renotgrabbingontoanything.”

Ginabecamehomeless.“Icouch-surfedformanyyears.Isleptonfloors,sleptinmycarbecauseIdidn’thaveanyplacetogo,”sherecalls.“IburnedbridgeswitheverybodyIknewbecauseofmyaddiction.”

ItwasGina’sbrotherwhohelpedherfindShepherd’sDoor,theMission’sministrytowomenandchildren.Havinggrownupinthesamepainfulfamilysituation,he’dbattledhisownaddiction.Godrestoredhislife.HeknewGodcouldhealGina,too.