Supported by TFG, Saved by Jesus

Veronica felt like a new person as she emerged from the baptismal water. The old was gone; the new had come.

As she opened her eyes, the first people she saw were her three children being held by their host family and her TFG case manager. Veronica’s family and friends. The people who had helped restore her faith in Jesus.

Veronica spent much of her childhood in foster care, moving from home to home, family to family. As a child, there was little stability and much grief. Veronica longed for the support of a family who would not leave her.

When she aged out of the foster care system, Veronica—like many foster youth—found herself homeless. Shortly after, she gave birth to her daughter Promise. As Veronica held Promise for the first time, she was overwhelmed with love for her baby daughter and wanted nothing more than to protect her from life’s hardships.

However, Veronica’s life was not easy. Four years after Promise was born, Veronica found herself homeless again, living out of her car with Promise and her second born daughter, Aurora.

Each day, Veronica would drop her daughters off at daycare, head to work, finish her shift, pick up her daughters, and spend the night in their car.

This was not what she wanted for her children, and Veronica was terrified that Promise and Aurora would be taken from her.

Veronica with one of her daughters.

That’s when Veronica was referred to Together for Good (TFG). As she listened to a TFG case manager explain what Together for Good offered, Veronica began to hope again. Together for Good was promising the very thing she most longed for: family-like, relational support.

Veronica was quickly connected to two TFG host families, each family investing in one of her daughters. The support began transforming Veronica’s routine, allowing her time to not only rest but secure housing for her family.

However, shortly after being connected with Together for Good, Veronica found out she was pregnant. This pregnancy was unlike her other two, and Veronica was so incredibly nauseous that she found herself calling into work sick day-after-day. After a few weeks of only being able to work sporadically, Veronica lost her job.

Jen, Veronica’s TFG case manager, received a call from Veronica sharing about her crisis. She was still sick and was worried about making rent and paying for her children’s daycare without any income. Jen prayed with Veronica, bringing a sense of peace into Veronica’s worried mind, and then assured her that her worst fears were not going to happen and that they would figure something out.

When Veronica’s host families heard about her morning sickness, they were quick to step in. Promise and Aurora began being hosted more frequently, and one of Veronica’s host moms, Sarah, began helping Veronica get more intentional medical care.

Through this extra care, Sarah and Veronica grew closer. Sarah said, “Being with her at such a vulnerable yet special time brought us closer together. Looking back, I think God put us in each other’s lives months earlier so we could establish that trust, and she would have someone to lean on when she needed it.”

Veronica welcomed a beautiful baby boy while Promise and Aurora were hosted by Sarah and her husband.

After giving birth, Veronica experienced postpartum complications. However, thanks to her host families, Veronica was never alone.

As Veronica’s health improved, her friendship with Sarah deepened. Veronica told Sarah, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude; I genuinely cannot thank you enough – I literally tear up! I’m praying one day I get to bless a young mom and give her everything you have given me and my kids! I love you and your family!”

Fast forward nearly two years, and Veronica stood in the front pew of her church with her three children, Sarah, and her TFG case manager, Jen, professing her faith and love for Jesus.

Veronica holds her son in her arms while standing with her TFG host mom and TFG case manager.

Veronica had specifically asked that her Together for Good family come to witness her baptism. These were the people who had shown Christ’s tangible love to her, and she could not imagine this moment without them.

As she walked up to the baptismal and stood in the water, Veronica was asked if she had anything more she wanted to say; in response, she began singing—praising Jesus for the way he had made her a new person and filled her with hope for the future.

Then, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Veronica was baptized.

She came up out of the water to cheering and rejoicing from her children, church, and Together for Good family.

Veronica grew up longing for a family. Today, she is part of the family of God. A family that will never leave her.