When Elena discovered alcohol as a teen, she knew she was sliding down a slippery slope. When she drank, she binged. Before long, her body was so broken from the addiction that it could no longer function without elevated levels of alcohol. She was drinking all day just to keep from feeling sick . . . but she knew her body was shutting down.
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A young mother of three, Elena was terrified and reached out to her own mother for help. She spent extensive time at inpatient therapy facilities, outpatient therapy facilities, and Alcoholics Anonymous. She was in and out of jail and eventually had to give up custody of her children. Four years of time and money could not save her from crippling addiction — or herself. Feeling selfish and alone, she decided to live in a van so she would not be a burden to her family.
Even when hope seemed lost, Elena’s mom never gave up on her. She heard about the Durham Rescue Mission and convinced Elena to go. Packing her bag, Elena feared what was ahead. When she checked-in
to the Mission, she recalls feeling an overwhelming, “Yes!” She realized quickly it was so much more than a homeless shelter.
Fast forward a few years, and Elena has completely reclaimed her life. A Victory Program graduate, she discovered what so many at the Durham Rescue Mission do: An ongoing relationship with God is the key to overcoming addiction. She had tried everything else and failed.
When she opened her heart to God, and the healing that only He could do, she began to change from the inside out.
Today Elena enjoys a loving relationship with her husband, who saw her through the program. She is a mentor to other women who are just beginning their recovery. Elena serves on staff with the Women’s
Division ministry and is a testament to the program.
“Expensive rehab with all the perks didn’t make the difference — but God and the Durham Rescue Mission made the difference,” shares Elena.
Thank you for supporting the work of the Mission; and for lifting people like Elena in your daily prayers. You provide them healing, hope, and
help to create a better life.