After graduation, Jessica wants to help others.

She’s reconnecting with her family

“It’s different now – knowing I’m loved, accepted, and appreciated no matter what. I think a lot of us hide behind ourselves, or our addictions, or our shame. It felt shameful, having to admit I was drinking too much. Especially for me, who grew up in the church.”

Jessica was born and raised in Riverside County. Her family was heavily involved in the church. Jessica’s mother was the praise team leader and Jessica led the youth worship team and played guitar. When her family moved to Santa Maria, Jessica stayed behind to live with her then-boyfriend. However, a year later Jessica and her boyfriend relocated to Santa Maria to live with her parents when her mother became ill. Her sister and her children also lived there.

“Being close to my nieces and nephews is really important to me. They are a big part of my life,” Jessica said.

Jessica worked full-time as an operations specialist at a bank, a job that she really enjoyed. “I like to solve problems; I like to learn. I’m a people
person and I’m always serving. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed.”

But Jessica wasn’t happy. “The relationship (with my boyfriend) was very, very bad. It was something I grew up definitely saying I never wanted but I just ended up settling for it. I was in it for 12 years.”

After the death of both her parents, and the end of her “horrible, controlling” relationship, Jessica started drinking. “Everything just piled up – I never grieved my parents, and I never processed my relationship properly or in a healthy way.”

Due to her alcoholism, Jessica wound up in the hospital on multiple occasions. During her last hospital stay, Jessica spent an entire month detoxing. Afterwards, a social worker recommended the Mission.

Jessica has been in the program for five months. Her siblings and her fiancé are “super supportive” and she’s incredibly grateful that God is restoring her relationships. “I’m rebuilding relationships with my siblings and my nieces and nephews, after I broke their trust. My fiancé is so proud and supportive of me. It’s just a nice feeling,” Jessica shared.

“My relationship with God is just way deeper now. I’ve always wanted that relationship, but I didn’t know how to achieve it. He’s changed the Jessica overcomes shame, finds love, acceptance in program way I think about myself and what I deserve.

“God told me I am worthy, that I am loved and supported.”

Jessica is incredibly thankful to the Mission and those that have helped her change her life.

“We (the women in the program) are super thankful and appreciative,” she said. “It’s been life changing. We couldn’t be here without the donor’s financial support and their prayers. Just knowing that there are people who love us and support us no matter what our past is, or who we used to be, is so comforting.”