The Story of the Arroyo Family
O.U.R. Mission Home Residents
"I never thought of myself being homeless…" says Mirta Arroyo as she recalls how she and her family came to the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. Mirta grew up in a compassionate, giving family. Neighbors who didn’t have meals to eat were always welcome at her childhood home. She remembers her mother always cooking extra meals for needy people she didn’t even know.
It was instilled in Mirta to give back to her community and she always made it a priority. Even as a small girl, Mirta gave bars of soap, notebooks, pens, and other small items from her father’s grocery store to the poor boys and girls at school.
As an adult, she was blessed with a good husband and three beautiful children. Everything seemed to be going well until her husband, Marcos, injured his arm and leg at work. Although he tried to continue working at his job in construction, he could not longer earn enough to provide for his family. With only a G.E.D. degree and in a tough economy, Mirta could not find work.
Without steady income, even their $250 rent payment was a tremendous burden. Bills were piling up and eviction loomed. Mirta found herself desperately needing a miracle. “Jesus, please do something or we’re going to be on the streets,” she prayed.
That’s when a friend told them about the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.
Becoming homeless very well could have been a traumatic time, not only for Mirta and Marcos, but also for the family’s children—Karina (14), Vanessa (13), and Jan Marcos (3). Instead, as 14-year old Karina walked through the front doors of O.U.R. Mission Home she said, “Wow, mom… this time Jesus heard our prayers!”
Instead of stepping into the run-down “homeless shelter” they had expected, the family was welcomed to a clean, friendly “new home” during this difficult period of their lives. O.U.R. Mission Home, the Mission’s facility for families, provides each homeless family with a private room, personalized case management, career training classes, and free child care.
Mirta is using her time at the Mission to increase her knowledge of computers in our Career Learning Center and improve her language skills while looking for work. Although she may not have material possessions to give back to her community, that passion still resides in her and she insists on passing that character trait to her children. Today, Mirta gives her time by volunteering in the Mission’s child care center.
Marcos is back to work in construction. Both Karina and Vanessa are excelling at school, while Jan Marcos enjoys playing with his friends at the Mission.
All are extremely grateful that the Mission was there when they needed help.
Each year, thousands of families become victims of homelessness for a variety of reasons. Sadly, most of the time it’s unforeseen circumstances such as a lost job, health problems, broken relationships, and financial strains that cause ordinary people to resort to life on the streets. Fortunately, the Mission is here to help those who need it most.
