Monday morning I got a call from Sister Beem, the Relief Society President in the Ventura 1st Ward, asking if Elder Mecham and I would be willing to meet with Kim, a young mother who was at the bottom of her luck. She and her three children had been kicked out of her boyfriend's parent's home where they had been staying. Do not know the details, other than her boyfriend was also kicked out or left on his own will a few days before she was ousted. She stayed on. When she left, she had no idea where the boyfriend was and thought he was upset with her for not leaving with him, but -- what was she to do with three little kids?
She was previously married to an abusive husband and had two children with him. She and her boyfriend have a baby who just turned one. After she was kicked out, she did not know what she was going to do and actually went knocking on some doors looking for assistance. She happened to knock on the door of an LDS couple who put her in contact with the transient bishop. He put her and the kids up in a motel for a few nights while she tries to find a more permanent place. Of course we said we'd meet with her! She was interested in learning more about our church and did not know anything about it. It would not be appropriate (nor allowed) for the elders to visit her at the motel. So away we went that evening after office hours.
Sister Beem and the Relief Society had purchased diapers and groceries for the family and found a stroller for her use. The baby is a chunky one-year-old that would be almost impossible to lug around very far, and of course, she has no car.
We tried several times to call Kim to set up a time to stop by and could never get ahold of her by phone. (One time, the front desk "helper" said he was just subbing and did not know how to forward a call to her room!) So we showed up unannounced. The kids were obviously in a state of turmoil, and Kim was very weepy. She had located her boyfriend, Michael, and he was also there at the motel. She wanted him to be in on the gospel discussions. So, we taught them a bit about our church and the restoration. They were VERY nice and appreciative of all that had been done to help them. They were very open to meeting again and learning more.
So we met with them the very next afternoon (yesterday). This time, the kids were very well behaved and seemed much more settled. Cute kids -- Ashlyn is in third grade, Damian is first grade, and baby (can't remember her name) - just turned a year old. We had another pleasant gospel discussion, talking about how our church differs from the one Kim was familiar with (a Protestant one). I think if these two can get their feet back under them, they will be golden contacts. They seem to be anyway. We are meeting with them again tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon (skipping Halloween :) and introducing them to our wonderful traveling/training elders, Elder Van Tassell and Elder Cary. They will take over the teaching end of things -- that's what they have been trained to do -- we have been trained to keep the mission office running smoothly.
It was neat, though, to have the opportunity to bear our testimonies and share our feelings about the church and the gospel. We are praying for them to be able to find work and a place to live. We have no idea of what happened, but they used to have a house and jobs and were very happy together. Michael is on probation (don't know why) but says he will soon be off. He LOVES that little baby girl (who, by the way, held out her arms to both Elder Mecham and me, which they said, she never does with strangers :) When we told them that we believed families can be together forever, Michael said, "I wish my parents could understand that."
Well, I just barely called Kim -- she had been to the welfare office and things have come together for her. She has money on her card (?) (I don't know how these things work), but she seemed so relieved and happy that they were going to be okay for the next month. Now, if she/he/they can just find work. AND a more permanent place to live.
More on this after we meet with them again tomorrow.
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