Elizabeth’s Success Story

For most of my life I’ve been running from pain, from loss, and from myself. Drugs were my escape. They started as a way to numb childhood trauma, but over the years they became chains that dragged me deeper into despair.

My mom had been my anchor. She was only in her 60s when she died from a tragic fall in the shower. She had multiple sclerosis, and I used to visit her every week to help. When she passed in that accident related to her MS, I felt like the ground beneath me gave way. I didn’t know how to cope, so I turned back to drugs.  For most of my life, I had been a successful commercial truck driver, hauling gravel and construction materials, but after Mom’s death I spiraled.

One day in 2021, I was driving down the freeway with 43 tons of material in my truck. Exhausted, I nearly fell asleep at the wheel. Suddenly, I heard my mom’s voice—clear as day—telling me to wake up. I could even smell her perfume. That moment shook me. I pulled the truck over, drove back to headquarters, and told my company I had to resign.  I needed real help to cope with her loss.

But real help was hard to find. I became homeless. To survive and have food to eat, I shoplifted.  Eventually, I was arrested. Sitting in jail, I was angry with God. I blamed Him for taking my mom. I thought it would have been better if she were still here on Earth with me.

Then, in my jail cell, I opened a Bible. I read 1 Corinthians 15:51–58, which says that those who believe in Christ are still alive. My mom was a believer in Jesus. That meant she wasn’t gone but that she was alive in Christ. Suddenly, I understood why I had heard her voice in the truck that day. My anger melted into humility. I realized God was speaking to me, too.

I expected to go to prison. My record was long, and the judge was ready to send me away. But then something miraculous happened. The judge offered me a chance: if I committed to the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake’s New Life Program at the Women’s Center and completed it, I could be released on probation instead of prison.

I said yes.

When the jail was set to release me, they mistakenly tried to drop me off at the Rescue Mission’s men’s facility downtown. I was handcuffed and scared to be around so many homeless men, but soon everyone realized I was supposed to be at the Women’s Center. When I finally arrived, the staff welcomed me warmly and told me, “This is your new home.”

At first, I struggled. Two months in, I got frustrated and stormed out. I walked to the bus stop, like a child running away from home, determined to leave. But then I heard that voice again, telling me I had nowhere else to go. Humbled, I returned. That was a turning point, and God began to change my heart.

During the New Life Program, I faced serious medical issues. The Mission connected me with the Fourth Street Clinic, where I received medical referrals, and Huntsman Cancer Institute, where I had diagnostic scans. The scans came back as lung cancer, and showed it had spread. But after a lot of prayer and further diagnosis, I was declared to be in remission. Doctors couldn’t explain how I survived. But ultimately, I know it was God’s healing.

Slowly, my life continued to change. I returned to truck driving and now have a good job at a nearby construction company. Even better, I have the opportunity to become a CDL instructor at a local community college. It feels like God is directing every step. When I graduate from the New Life Program, I’ll move into Hope House, the Mission’s transitional housing for women. I should be able to clear probation this summer.

Through it all, I’ve learned to trust God. He is in control. My relationship with Him has become intimate and I hear His voice guiding me. I’ve learned that I can’t do life on my own. I need Him, and I need community.

One of the greatest blessings has been reconnecting with my daughter. For years, she was angry with me. She felt I chose drugs over her. But while my daughter was in nursing school, she had an assignment to attend an AA meeting. The assignment was given so she could better understand those she may treat who struggle with substance abuse. The AA class experience opened her eyes. She wrote me a letter, saying she understood me better now and was ready to forgive. We’ve been writing back and forth, and I’m so grateful. God and the Mission gave me back communication with my daughter.

Looking in the rear-view mirror, I see how far I’ve come. I have spent the holidays at times camping along the Jordan River, homeless and hopeless. I’ve been in jail cells, hospital rooms, and dark places I thought I’d never escape. But today, I’m alive, working, and walking with God.

I give all glory to God for changing my life. I’m thankful to the Rescue Mission for opening its doors when no one else would, and to the supporters who make this ministry possible. You gave me a chance when most of the world gave up on me.

My story isn’t finished yet. Graduation is coming, probation will end, and I’ll step into a new chapter. It’s bittersweet to leave the Women’s Center, where I’ve lived for over a year, but I know God will guide me as I transition to Hope House. He’s brought me this far, and I trust Him to lead me the rest of the way. Thank you for your support of that helps women like me!