Showing Appreciation and Encouragement – Ashley’s Story

When Ashley Dinkins came to the Mission, she had been working for the fair and living in a trailer they provided for her on site. But the work was seasonal, and most of the time she had only enough money for one meal a day of rice, toast, or ravioli. She moved in with her fiancé, but the house was in poor repair with no running water, so she had to bathe with cold water from an outside water spigot. Finally, looking for a better life for herself and her infant son Jacob, she moved out. Her brother, a disciple at Project Hope, told her about the Mission, and in November 2023, Ashley was accepted as a resident at the Family Home. “When I first called, I wasn’t expecting to get accepted the first day or to talk with someone who sounded so nice, but Mr. Freddy made it happen, and I’m so appreciative,” she said. Ashley has believed in Christ all her life, but once at the Mission, she enrolled in the Victorious Life class and began growing in her faith. In the parenting class, she learned how to educate her child and passed the class with a high score. She is almost finished with her coursework to graduate with her high school diploma and wants to work one day with children. “I absolutely adore children,” she said. “Being at the Mission has increased my determination to graduate and get a job and stability.” For her discipleship, Ashley, who is very shy, works in the kitchen and has learned how to communicate with others without getting overly nervous. She also has learned to sew and often makes items such as scarves, pillowcases, and baby blankets for others. “I enjoy sewing and can’t wait to become a seamstress so I can help others,” she said. She is a great encourager to new residents and invites them to sewing class, too. So many of the staff at the Mission have made an impact on Ashley. “Ms. Karen helped me when I was looking for a job, and Ms. Tanika was a strict but amazing teacher.” She is also thankful for the help and encouragement of other staff, including Ms. Taylor at the front desk, Julio in the kitchen, Andy in maintenance, and Ms. Jessica in math tutoring. Ashley spends her time and money helping others. She gives clothes and snacks to the homeless people she sees on the streets. At the Mission, she gets people to sign cards of appreciation for others or to celebrate birthdays. She is also very appreciative of the donors and volunteers who help make her stay at the Mission possible. “I greatly appreciate the people who donate their time and money, helping with the children, cleaning up, or helping in the kitchen,” she said. One volunteer even paid for her to get new shoes for work when she first got to the Mission. “Whenever there’s a tour or a special event, I always want to smile and show my appreciation for all they have done.”