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Relief Bus

About one month before having the baby, Austinand his wife Darcy asked her to come live with their family. Carmen was a little skeptical at rst. Shesays it was dif cult going from the street to afamily environment. I had been by myself for solong and didnt have a family environment growingup. When asked about the future, Carmen saysshe dosent want to go back to being homeless sothat [Baby Eric] can have a life like this. Carmennow has options to keep her from going back tohomelessness.

Its surprising to Carmen that the Bonds took her in, even though they didnt know her. It is thatcharacter, amongst many other qualities, that setthe Bonds apart as a family that is dearly lovedand will be missed at The Relief Bus. After serv-ing for four years with The Relief Bus, the Bondswill be moving. They are going to Dallas to start anew non-pro t to help the poor. Austin is passingthe torch of Director of Outreach to Josiah Haken(see back). The investments the Bonds made intothe lives of Carmen, Baby Eric, and thousands of homeless will continue to ourish for years to come.

I became homeless at18, says 23-year-oldCarmen. The Relief Bus met Carmen inSeptember of 2010. Atthe time she had justleft a shelter, and wastwo months pregnant.Before that, she wouldget soup from the busand then leave. Butone particular day Aus-tin Bonds, (Director of Outreach) felt led to gotalk to Carmen.Carmen said he asked

my name and then saidhe had some things for me from some people inMichigan.

As it turns out, a team from Michigan had metCarmen a previous week, and sent some babyhings for her. The problem was that Austin didnt

know who Carmen was at the time, and so whenAustin asked Carmens name, much to his surprise,he discovered she was that Carmen. Thus begana relationship between Carmen and the Relief Bus

family.

During that time, Carmen started having trouble withhe shelter she was staying in. They required her to

re-apply for housing every ten days, which wouldrequire her to travel to an off-site of ce,eaving her things behind in the shelter. This

process became too much with a baby on the way,so she moved into another shelter in Harlem whichurned out not be a good place.

Carmen: A New Addition to the Family

ese Things We Do...That Others May Live.

R e p o r t

T h e

Carmen and Baby Eric

The Bonds, with Carmen and Baby Eric

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The Relief Bus Adds New Members to the Team!

Outreach Staff Josiah HakenDirector of Outreach

Josiah grew up a missionary kid inCameroon, Africa, but found himself being called to a new mission eld inNYC with his wife Chelsea. He con-siders it a distinct privilege to serveJesus Christ Himself in the form of the poor wanderer, the prostitute,and the drug addict. Yazdi Bellihomji (Yaz)Outreach Team Leader

Born in Iran, raised in New Jersey,Yaz escaped a life of drug addictionand is now leading outreaches and

walking alongside the broken andhurting on the streets, leading themdown the path to freedom.

Lance FarrellOutreach Team Leader

A recent graduate of Somerset Chris -tian College, Lance found his plansfor the future interupted by God. Hemeets men and women on the streetwherever they are in life, dignifyingthe broken and reminding others of

their status as sons and daughters of God.

Johanna SoukkaOutreach Team Leader & Volunteer Coordinator

A native of Finland, Johanna rstcame to work with The Relief Busin 2001. This is her tenth time back.She loves to hang out and talk withpeople and her compassion helpsher connect with people (especially

ladies) on the street, showing them the love and ac-ceptance of God.

Board Members

Jay PaulsonPartner, Ernst & YoungA graduate of University of

North Texas, Jay is a licensedCPA in the State of Texas.His current position has himbased out of Cleveland, OH,where he is also a member of

the music ministry at Pathway Church.

James HsuGeneral Superintendant,Brack Capital Real EstateJames is married and the

father of two children. Hegraduated from StevensInstitute of Technology with adegree in Civil Engineering.

He is currently a Team Leader for The Relief Bus Paterson outreach location.

Dave WorkFirst VP, Senior Trust & EstateSpecialist, Merrill Lynch

Dave resides in Dallas, TXwith his family and is amember of the Sturgis FamilyFoundation, The DallasFoundation. He serves as

a Deacon at Northwest Bible Church, and is agraduate of The University of Texas.

Please join our monthly support team today for $25, $50, $100 or more so that The Relief Buscan continue for another 20 years, working to transform the communities we serve in.All gifts are tax-deductible. Make your check out to The Relief Bus and mail in or give online at www.reliefbus.org . Thanks for caring.

The Relief Bus, P.O. Box 64 Times Square P.O., New York, NY 10108800.736.2773, www.reliefbus.org, info@reliefbus.org

Facebook.com/thereliefbus Twitter.com/thereliefbus

>>>Go to www.reliefbus.organd check out the Staff and

Board Members pages in the About dropdown menu