“I’m learning who I am.”

Latisha grew up in an abusive home. She learned at a young age that survival meant not rocking the boat… conforming to the rules… accepting things as they were. “I grew up having to be passive. I wasn’t allowed to figure out who I was as a person. I never learned to love myself.”

The one place Latisha shined was at school. She excelled academically and was involved in sports and extracurricular activities—which gave her an excuse to stay away from home for as long as possible.

As a young adult, her strong work ethic continued. She worked multiple jobs while also starting a family. But eventually, the weight of it all became too much to carry alone. Her partner left her, and Latisha and her children had to move out of their home. With nowhere safe to go, they stayed in hotels until Latisha called us for help. The day she and her children came to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities was such a relief.

“I wanted to change… to be better for myself and better for my kids.”

In our Naomi Family Program, Latisha began healing from the trauma of her childhood. She finally learned to let go and accept help. “When I first came to the Mission, they told me to just breathe. I didn’t know how to breathe,” she says. “For the first time I was able to drop the burden that I’d been carrying alone for so long. I’d never done that. I’d never had help before.”

With her children safe and cared for in our program, Latisha was also able to be still and finally ask herself, “Who am I?” She’s still exploring that answer. “Before, I always tried to make myself what someone else wanted. I tried to please others, so I didn’t know who I was. That’s one of my biggest goals here at UGMTC: to see myself and learn about myself.”

Latisha has strength for her future because of your heart of compassion for her and other neighbors in need. Because you chose to share God’s love, she has a path forward in life.  “This program really focuses on self awareness—opening your eyes to yourself. Then everything around you starts to fall into place. Now, I’m a whole different person. I want to go back to school and provide stability for my kids, which is something I never had.”

Click here to read the full issue of our Summer 2024 Newsletter.