At the Mission, Rozlyn accepted Christ into her life. She’s since been baptized!

Rozlyn, 20, dropped out of high school after her mother started disappearing. “My mom began leaving our apartment for weeks, even months at a time, and left me by myself,” Rozlyn shared. The frequent absence of her mother had lasting consequences for Rozlyn. “I didn’t feel motivated to get up. I was just very depressed.”

Rozlyn’s mother was attempting to reconcile with her husband, although they eventually divorced. “It was about time. The family was very dysfunctional. I had a stepsister, and we always fought. I was close to my stepdad, but my mom and I would argue.”

Rozlyn’s mother sold their apartment in order to move out of state, but the plan fell through, and the pair became homeless. They briefly stayed with Rozlyn’s grandmother and aunt, but they were unable to stay long-term.

“My grandma is in senior living, and my aunt is in HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) housing, so we had nowhere to go. I didn’t have a job at the time. I wasn’t working on my future,” Rozlyn admitted. “Instead, I was smoking weed, being lazy, holding this resentment for everyone. I was very unmotivated, very depressed, very angry.”

Rozlyn’s grandmother found the Lighthouse. “At first, I absolutely hated being at the Lighthouse. Before I came here, I had no idea I had a terrible phone addiction, and you have to give up your phone when you’re here. I remember telling my grandparents I would rather be wandering the streets than be here. It’s gotten better; I’ve gotten better. I have learned to live without my phone.”

Initially, discovering that the program was faith-based caused Rozlyn intense anxiety and fear. “My mom started seeking God, but the way she was doing it scared me,” she shared. “She called me a demon child. It was just a lot, and it scared me. I was wondering if all Christians were this way or if this was what Christianity was.

“I thought, ‘Holy moly, this is probably going to be like my mom.’ And then, two months later, I accepted Jesus into my life.” Later that same week, Rozlyn was baptized.

Eight months into her stay at the Mission, Rozlyn is continually challenging herself in other areas of her life. “It’s going great. Before this I was very much in my own bubble. I was secretive. I would lie a lot. Now, I’m socializing and talking to my sisters in Christ. Talking to new people is still difficult, but I’m getting better and learning to socialize here.

Rozlyn values the community she’s found at the Lighthouse.

“My emotions are being regulated and I’m learning not to get angry when I’m told ‘no’ or something happens. I’m a work in progress.”

One of the biggest benefits for Rozlyn’s personal growth are the volunteer led classes. “Christina (Lighthouse volunteer) is teaching us boundaries right now; it’s been very helpful. She’s helping me realize I didn’t have boundaries before,” Rozlyn admitted. “The most important thing was not having boundaries with myself. The boundary of self-control with… everything, honestly. And doing things I really don’t want to do but doing them anyway.”

Being part of a community has been transformative for Rozlyn. For the first time, she feels seen, safe, and supported—something that’s had a major impact on her mental health. “I was so depressed I started going to a psychiatrist. I was taking medications, but they made me suicidal, so I’m no longer taking them,” she said. “I’m so much better. It’s the sense of community honestly; I didn’t have that growing up. I was alone and very isolated. I didn’t have friends throughout school. I wasn’t exactly a friendly person, but I’m changing.”

Rozlyn is currently working on completing her GED and obtaining a driver’s license. She’s committed to taking it one day at a time. “I’m beyond grateful for the volunteers, donors, and staff. We are taught amazing things here and amazing things are happening here.”