Tessa’s Home is an 8 part series running until December 27th. To listen to the audio backgrounder from CHRI, click below. Miss previous episodes? Click “Recent Posts” on the right sidebar.
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Tessa tells her story…
What I wish for Christmas is that people would come together and realize how much we need each other.
I want to thank OIM for being there when I needed them; for listening when nobody else would; for being exactly what I needed when I needed it – whether it like it was freezing cold and they had hot chocolate, sandwiches or socks; or when I was upset, taking the time to talk to me, and eventually helping shape me into somebody I want to be more, and to give me the opportunity to work alongside them; even seeing where I came from. Not a lot of people would let me do that.
A lot of people, when they learn what happened to me and where I came from, just walk away. I’ve had people completely cut ties with me over that. They (OIM) don’t judge and they brought me back to God and I feel like if they weren’t there, I’d still be in a pretty dark place. They brought life into my life and I’m thankful for that.
When I think of OIM, everything comes into my head: Moira, Jay, you, the office, the art group, the outreach – everything – especially the people. They were there.
To the donors: no matter what you give, everything has been so helpful because without everybody’s efforts as a whole, we would not have what we have.
At art group we’re at 20 youth capacity. Even we are over capacity with 23. I asked Moira, ‘Where does the money come from?’ She goes, ‘Jesus’. What that translated into my mind, was it came from the people God motivated to donate, and so are doing the work of Jesus. When I thought about it, all these people coming together… without them, we probably wouldn’t be there.
I just wanna close in saying, ‘A great big thanks for all you do’. Merry Christmas.
From Tessa’s Home in her little apartment/condo, from her home with the kids in the art group (and on their behalf), and from the Staff and Volunteers at OIM, from our home to yours,
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
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