Embracing faith and hope, thanks to you.
“This has really allowed us to put our faith and what we had learned into practice.” – Ruben
Ruben and his mom Maria never imagined they would be homeless. But after they lost their rental home, they found themselves couch surfing with nowhere to live. Ruben says, “Where do you go? If the spot where you grew up—where you laughed and cried—is not there, it throws you into this state of limbo; you’re just floating.”
That’s when they came to stay at The Salvation Army Anaheim Emergency Shelter. Not only were Ruben and his mom able to be together as a family, but they were also able to bring their dog, Ruby, too. At the same time, Ruben was finishing his senior year in high school. Thanks to his faith and perseverance, he kept a 4.0 GPA, even working a part-time job. He also played varsity tennis while serving as President of Rebels for Christ and the Hispanic Society. His hard work paid off last fall when he received his acceptance to nearby Biola University with a full scholarship.
Faith and a bright future
Ruben and his mom never lost their faith. While at the shelter, Ruben began to develop his leadership and public speaking skills during church services. He says, “There’s no manual on how to survive homelessness. There’s no two minute prayer that automatically you’ll get a report from the Lord. Ultimately, you have to walk by faith.”
Today, Ruben is looking forward to studying Spanish and theology at college. His mom is also in the process of securing housing. There’s a lot to look forward to for their family. “This has really allowed us to put our faith and what we had learned into practice,” says Ruben.
Thanks to neighbors like you, families like Ruben’s can find safe shelter and encouragement when an unforeseen crisis happens. Thank you for helping do the most good for them.
