A missionary pastor's daughter, Jamie didn't plan to be virtually homeless living with her husband on the West Mesa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But that's how she's starting 2010.

Jamie

Explaining that ongoing pain, a number of surgeries and a delayed disability assessment
had made life very difficult, Jamie told me some of the circumstances that resulted in her landing in her current situation.

While living in Chicago and working in the medical field, Jamie said, among other issues she dislocated her shoulders, tore up her hand, hit her nose and had to have reconstructive sinus and hand surgery. Now in Albuquerque as a result of her husband's employment, Jamie is undergoing a series of operations.

After Jamie's husband left his job, he began traveling looking for employment. Ultimately, he found work in Albuquerque, but it hasn't been at all easy.

There are a lot of barriers to moving into an apartment or a house that people don't necessarily think about, Jamie said.

She said in addition to deposits, "I don't even know my way around Albuquerque. I don't know the good places (or) the bad (ones). How am I going to feel like I'm safe to go off and get an apartment when I don't even know the area?"

Fortunately, Jamie said, she has been able to communicate. "My family's bought me a cell phone and they pay for it ... so that I can at least get all my doctors' calls. Between that, you know, and them helping me, that's all I get. My unemployment's all gone and they wouldn't even let me have an ... extension. They told me I didn't make enough to get an extension."

I asked Jamie how people have treated her in Albuquerque. She exclaimed, "Wonderful!" Jamie added, "So much more wonderful than Chicago where I'm from. I think that's one thing that keeps me out here."

I asked Jamie what she would like to say to the people in Albuquerque who have helped her, such as her husband's employer.

Her face lit up. She said, "Thank you to everybody that's pulled together during the times when I needed it. I didn't have a vehicle when I went in for surgery, so my husband's boss he let him take me to surgery in the service truck. He picked me up in the service truck (and gets) my medicine in the service truck. There are good people out here."

Jamie said she was also grateful for the donors whose kindness and generosity allows us to keep the Lifeline of Hope on the road. She said if it wasn't for the Lifeline, she would have to wait another month before being able to buy desperately needed supplies.

I asked Jamie what she would like people to know about the difficulties of being homeless.

She said, "The part when you have to go without food. And when it's just so cold that you can't even bear it and you don't have enough to wrap up in, and you're losing feeling in your body parts because you're so cold."

And at that point, Jamie said, "I feel like I'm alone... and that nobody cares."

I told Jamie, "We care for you; Jesus cares for you and a lot of generous donors around town care for you as well."

I asked Jamie what hopes she has for the upcoming year. She said she wants to make it through the remainder of her six surgeries and get her disability.

Jamie added, "I don't want to be pushed away by the courts any longer because of my age. I'm hurt, and I can't work ever again even if the surgeries do work."

Jamie said her relationship with Jesus enabled her to get through the last year. She said that without Him, "I wouldn't be here. I (would have already) committed suicide. I can guarantee you that. I have been through such a hard last 15 months that if it wasn't for Him, I would have just said, 'Forget it.'"

Jamie encouraged everyone who reads her story to believe in God. She said, "If you do, He'll bring you the good people, and that means really believing in God when you're down and out, crying to Him. Don't cry to your mom. You really, really, have to 100 percent believe and people will come to you. They will be there to help."

My Take

I encourage you all to pray for Jamie and the "flock" of people to whom he allows us to touch while we are out in the Lifeline of Hope. It is such a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ tangibly with those who are outside the walls of Joy Junction. Thank you for making it possible.