October 29, 2024

David was used to not fitting in. Maybe it was the hand-me-down clothes that were often dirty and too small. Maybe it was that he would never let anyone see where he lived. Or maybe it was because David was so embarrassed by his family’s situation that he didn’t talk much to anyone. 

Whatever it was, David felt like he stood out like a sore thumb wherever he went. Growing up in a poor neighborhood meant nobody around him had much money, but even among the families in the neighborhood, his was especially struggling. 

His father left years ago, and his mother had a chronic illness, which meant she was too sick to work. 

As a result, the family moved around a lot, staying in run-down places that were often infested with bugs. Sometimes they didn’t have electricity or running water. 

And even when they did, it never stayed on for long because his mother didn’t pay the bills. None of these places ever felt like a home to David. 

As soon as David was old enough, he got a job to help pay for the mounting household expenses. His older brother had done the same thing, so David didn’t even consider another possibility. 

Soon, David didn’t see the point of going to school at all. He didn’t have any friends at school and had never been a great student. The most important thing was working to help his family. 

When his older brother turned 18, he moved out, leaving David alone with his mom. 

Without his brother’s help, David started struggling even more. No matter how hard he worked, it was impossible to keep up with the bills. He and his mom continued moving from dirty apartment to dirty apartment. David was more discouraged than ever. He knew something needed to change. 

One day after work, he stopped at the library on his way home and searched the internet for something, anything that could help him. And then he found Mercy Home. 

David wasn’t sure that we would be able to help him, but he was so desperate he decided to contact us. David was pleasantly surprised to discover that Mercy Home was exactly what he needed. My coworkers explained to him that we could provide him with a safe, clean place to sleep and three meals a day. At our Home, he would no longer have to take on the burdens of adulthood while he was only a child. 

But David was worried about his mom. Without him, he didn’t know how she would survive. But my coworkers explained to him that we could provide support to his mother as well, including meals and therapeutic support. 

Satisfied that his mom would be taken care of, he was ready to move in. He immediately got back into school and worked hard with his tutors to get caught up. 

With that extra support, he realized that school was something he enjoyed—and he is already thinking about going to college! 

And, for the first time ever, David was able to make friends and truly feel part of a safe, stable, and loving home. After a lifetime of struggling and surviving, he is finally able to thrive. 

Thank you for giving children like David a second chance at success and a brighter future. Your prayers and support give our young people the opportunity to overcome even life’s most difficult circumstances and enjoy the security of a loving home. 

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.