This past month, we had the pleasure of welcoming home one of our most friendly neighbors, Linda. For over a year, Linda had been looking for a place to call home. Opportunity came knocking when a place opened up at a senior living complex in which she had been on the waitlist.
The road to stable housing has not been an easy one for Linda. It all started when she was injured while working as a forklift driver and was unable to work as a result. Soon after, she could no longer afford her rent and left for a cheaper living situation. However, that living situation became unsafe, so she started living in her car. Her safety was threatened again, when her car was destroyed by a fire. Thankfully, she was able to find a van as a replacement and drove around local cities to find a stable home. During this time, she also visited doctors in order to care for her work injury. Linda’s persistence on finding housing paid off when she made it home to a comfy apartment in Norwalk.
Linda is very happy to be in a secure complex with polite neighbors. While two members of our team brought over a welcome home basket and mattress for Linda, they met one of her neighbors who made sure to welcome Linda to the building as soon as they found out she was a new tenant staying close by to them. Besides her friendly neighbors, one of Linda’s favorite things about her apartment is the balcony, because she loves the water and is excited to get a view of the pool. She also likes her kitchen and looks forward to using it to make tamales with her family when she invites them over for the holidays.
While unhoused, Linda attended Saturday Morning Breakfast and Showers (SMBS), a partner ministry with Calvary Bellflower Church that provides a safe space every Saturday for our unhoused neighbors to shower and enjoy a warm meal. Linda is looking forward to returning to SMBS as a hospitality volunteer, so she can share her story with our unhoused neighbors and provide them with hope.
How to pray for Linda:
Pray that there will be opportunities for Linda that will help her grow in community with her neighbors living in her complex building.
Pray that Linda’s work injury heals and that the pain caused by her injury goes away.
Pray that the Lord continues to bless Linda and use her story in mighty ways.
Published 11.9.22 - Link: https://www.kcbellflower.org/blog/welcome-home-linda