Your support means freedom and new life for Natalia and her kids!
In February 2022, 27-year-old Natalia watched with concern when she first saw the bomber jets flying overhead the Russian city of Krasnodar, near the border of Ukraine. She knew immediately that something was wrong. Then the tanks started rumbling through the streets toward Ukraine.
“The Russian TV news and the Internet told us there was no war in Ukraine, that we were only involved in a ‘special operation,’” Natalia recalls. “But I knew that was just propaganda.”
Natalia, who worked as an interior designer and artist in Krasnodar, was opposed to the war, so she started creating political art to protest and posted her art on the Internet.
“We’re one of the only places that’s helping refugee families in Los Angeles.”
Local police and neighbors quickly took notice and began questioning her. Feeling threatened, Natalia gathered her twin 4-year-old girls and fled—first to
United Emirates, then to Mexico City and Tijuana, and finally to the United States, where they made it to Los Angeles and Union Rescue Mission.
Natalia and her children are part of a growing number of refugee families fleeing countries worldwide and finding their way to Union Rescue Mission.
“It started with families escaping the crime and gang violence in Colombia,” says Lisa Cox, program director for family emergency services at URM’s downtown location. “Then we started seeing a growing number coming from Russia and Ukraine, and lately more from Honduras, El Salvador, Africa, and Belize. We’re currently serving about 110 families downtown—more than half of them refugee families.”
Natalia learned about Union Rescue Mission through a chat room. “I prayed to God before we came,” she says. “We had nowhere else to go. The people here have helped so much—they gave us food and shelter and now we’re safe. My kids went to school, and they helped me with all the documentation I had to fill out. Now I’m at a church that’s helping Russian families. Union Rescue Mission always guided me in the right direction.”
“We’re one of the only places that’s helping refugee families in Los Angeles,” says Cynthia Jimenez, Executive Program Director at Angeles House. “And thanks to our donors, we’re able to keep them all together as a family, giving them the emotional stability they need. They don’t have to sleep in a car or on the streets. We’re lessening their trauma and keeping them safe… giving them the time and space they need to figure out their next steps and work to start a new life in a brand new country.”
“Please don’t give up,” Natalia says to donors, “because our children need your support. I thank God for you.”
Give Today to Help Set Someone Free from Hunger and Homelessness
Every day, more struggling men, women, children, and families come to Union Rescue Mission imprisoned by the bondage of homelessness, hunger,
addiction, persecution—and even the threat of war and violence. Caring people like you, however, who support Union Rescue Mission, help them escape that bondage and find new freedom and new life.
Today, the need is so great. Individuals and families at Union Rescue Mission, Hope Gardens, and Angeles House—from all over the world—need hope. You can
give that to them.
Your gift today will provide them with meals and shelter, recovery services, mental health care, dental and medical services, emotional and spiritual support—
and, best of all, the kind of freedom that will truly set them free. The freedom only found in Jesus Christ.
Please, give generously today!
Helping guests address mental health issues is a critical part of their recovery process and journey of healing.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” —Romans 12:2
Opened in January of 2001, the Jerry Butler/Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic at Union Rescue Mission is an essential service for people devastated by homelessness and addiction as they climb the steep path toward recovery. Staffed by doctoral interns from Pepperdine University’s Department of Psychology
and supervised by a Pepperdine clinical psychologist, the Mental Health Clinic provides professional skills matched with compassionate care.
“There is a tremendous need for counseling and mental health treatment for people who are in recovery from substance abuse. Many people devastated by homelessness have experienced a wide variety of traumatic experiences in their lives, including physical/sexual abuse and domestic violence. Besides,
homelessness is just a traumatic experience in and of itself.
We help people address their broken relationships and learn how to build new, productive relationships that will help them in their recovery. It’s not enough to just give people shelter and other basic services. Mental health treatment is key to helping people deal with the challenges they face.”
Cary Mitchell, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Jerry Butler/
Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic
“Because of all my alcohol and drug use, my teeth were rotting, infected, and bleeding. The dental clinic gave me all new implants, top and bottom. Now I have beautiful teeth again.” —David
Tooth aches, tooth loss, and gum disease cause a lot of suffering among people who are devastated by homelessness. The University of Southern California Dental Clinic at URM provides free comprehensive care to hurting people throughout the Skid Row area. The Dental Clinic conducts more than XXXX dental
care visits per year, providing the following services:
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Tooth extractions
• Root canals
• Dentures
I can’t imagine the fear and struggle men and women face who are forced to flee their country because of political oppression, war, religious persecution, extreme poverty, or criminal violence endangering their families. I can’t imagine starting over with nothing—in a new country and a new culture, not knowing the language, with no support or help.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a growing number of families, just like Natalia’s, fleeing danger and persecution from all over the world. That’s why I’m so grateful that Union Rescue Mission, thanks to your support, is here to provide them with freedom from hunger, homelessness, and violence. More than that, we give them the chance to start over and build a new life for themselves with the long-term support they need.
At the same time, Union Rescue Mission is filled with men, women, children, and families seeking freedom from all kinds of bondage: emotional trauma, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, and more. Thanks to you, however, I’m most grateful we can help them discover true freedom—the freedom we can all experience in Jesus Christ. He alone sets us free from sin and every bondage we could ever experience. Thank you for your faithful, compassionate support!
Blessings,
Rev. Andy Bales, CEO
To read Andy’s blog, please visit revandysblog.com
