From Coffee Barista to Preschool Teacher 

You gave Yasmeen a bright future 

“I love it here, I’m never moving out,” were Yasmeen’s* first words upon beginning her journey at The Elizabeth House.  

Yasmeen came to The Elizabeth House from a homeless shelter with a three-month-old baby girl. Yasmeen worked part-time at a coffee shop.  She was unsure and skeptical about her abilities, but she knew one thing: she wanted a better life for herself and her child.  

Two things were central to Yasmeen’s eventual success: growing her relationship with God and the patience and loving support of The Elizabeth House staff, volunteers, and fellow residents.  

Yasmeen came to The Elizabeth House eager to learn more about God and develop a closer relationship with Jesus and she found ample support for both of those things. Yasmeen started attending church, and soon made the decision to dedicate her life to Jesus, and to dedicate her daughter, Lucia*, to the Lord.  She declared her decision to follow Jesus with a public baptism in the church. 

At the same time, Yasmeen was learning how to balance motherhood with work and how to find meaningful employment. In the early days, Yasmeen found it difficult to manage the realities of getting a baby ready for daycare and herself to work on time. Thankfully, the staff at The Elizabeth House was there to support and coach.  

And that loving support also allowed Yasmeen to find her professional calling. After trying a few positions that weren’t a fit, she was offered a position at a daycare where she could take her baby to work with her. Soon, Yasmeen was offered an opportunity to study and take the tests to become a preschool teacher. Before long, she had her own class and was making enough money to pay off her debt and save for an apartment.   

Yasmeen will tell you that her journey has not been an easy one. And although there have been bumps in the road, the Lord has been faithful. Yasmeen can see that she’s taken important steps to the better life she dreamed of and that her choices have also inspired positive changes in her own family.  Yasmeen has encouraged her mother to attend church and seek first the kingdom above all else.  

Thanks to you, Yasmeen and Lucia have a bright future ahead—meaningful work, critical life skills, and the help of a caring church family.  Thank you for supporting Yasmeen and helping her become the woman and mother God intended her to be.  

*names changed