Blog

We are often asked how we measure the success of our residents here at Elizabeth House. It always involves a lengthy answer.  We would love for all of our residents to apply at 8-10 weeks pregnant and have ample time to fully work the program and reach all of their goals. It would “check all of the boxes” if they saved enough money for a car, secured stable housing and transitioned into full independence after their six month postpartum period. However, the way Elizabeth House works on paper is far from what we get to experience within the walls of our homes and hearts of our residents. I was starkly reminded of this recently by one of our residents, Mama B, who reached out in need of a place at a whopping 39 weeks pregnant. We moved as quickly as possible to get her here from the San Antonio area just a week before she would deliver her beautiful baby girl. 

Our staff and volunteers all promptly fell in love with Mama B, her precious 6 year old son and baby J. They became such a light to the house and even began attending a local church. However, from the start, our expectations for what Mama B would accomplish here with such a short amount of time were different from that of our residents who come in and spend months working or going to school before delivering. Nonetheless, we knew we were going to help Mama B with whatever goals she had for her family. 

As it sometimes goes with our residents, Mama B’s situation changed very quickly. There are always mixed emotions when we hear a resident has a housing opportunity and will be leaving us more quickly than expected. This was of course the case when we learned that Mama B’s own mother had secured a new place with space for Mama B and her kiddos. We knew that this was the best case scenario for Mama B, but were heartbroken to know that their sweet family would be leaving us a little over a month after they moved in. Which begs the question, why? Other than having her baby, did she accomplish any of the items on our checklist? Did she make any money? Did she buy a car? Are there any dollar amount metrics that can be applied to justify this being a “successful” resident? 

As I toy with these questions, I am often reminded of Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” While I knew that Mama B was attending church, I had no idea of her decision to be baptized, which she made the weekend after Easter. As I congratulated her the following week, I asked if it was something she had been wanting to do for a while or if it was a recent decision. She shared with me that she “had wanted to do it for years, just never felt like the time was right.” and that she felt like “God brought her to Elizabeth House for that moment” and that being here allowed her the time and the place to finally move forward with one biggest decisions of her life. I have learned to savor and appreciate the glimpse we sometimes get into the purpose of Elizabeth House in the lives of our residents. We praise Him for the metrics we can see; money added to savings accounts, cars and employment obtained, counseling sessions attended, GED credits and drivers license earned.  But we also know that sometimes we are planting seeds for fruit that will grow long after the resident leaves Elizabeth House. So, when we get asked how we measure success here, I guess in a sense, we don’t. I prefer to leave that up to Him whose ways are not my ways and whose thoughts are not my thoughts.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
~Proverbs 3: 5-6

 
~ Natalie Freeman
Executive Director

Why serve at Elizabeth House? It’s simple: we are called to be the Lord’s hands and feet on earth, and what better way to live out that mission than serving Him here? It is our pleasure to assist these mothers in their vocation and identity as a “mother.”

Aside from seeing physical fruits from service, I have learned a lot and received countless graces. I have learned to be more grateful for what I have, as well as, what my actions can do for others if I choose to selflessly serve them. Through God’s hands I have received an outpouring of graces as serving others is truly, in a spiritual way, serving Him. I encourage everyone to step outside of their comfort zone and to reach a hand out to those in need, especially here at the Elizabeth House.
 
~Madison Lustig 

 Madison - among other things - has jumped in to help with our social media graphics.


 

Denese Taylor recently shared with us what it has meant to her to volunteer at the Elizabeth House.

During a GED tutoring session, I was suddenly asked in the softest, sweetest voice, “do you pray?” I said, “yes, all the time and all throughout the day. I need tons of help and direction from God.” With a gentle confidence, the young lady then kindly asked me if I would pray for her and her children. It took everything I had to keep the “tear faucet“ from flowing; but, somehow, I managed to keep my emotions at bay and warmly reassured her I would gladly pray for her, her children and God’s guidance in her life.

Just after relocating to the College Station area, my husband and I visited a local church that took up a special offering for Elizabeth House. The pastor explained in detail the mission of this vital ministry to provide a home (in every sense of the word) to young, pregnant ladies in crisis who choose life for their unborn child. I had been praying for direction in my own life since all three of our children had graduated from college and were gainfully employed. PTL! My multi-faceted “career” as a school volunteer, golf mom and pro-bono, college-essay editor had definitely reached its winter season. However, I thought I would just offer my services as an ELA tutor to EH in case the need ever arose. Two months later I received a call asking if I would be interested in assisting a young lady who needed to study for her driver’s license exam. I was more than happy to take on the challenge even though my talents do not lie behind the wheel of motor vehicle, especially those bigger than a small SUV. Consequently, I found that my initial, seemingly small assignment would grow into one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I have ever known.

Whether it is explaining the parts of speech, providing rides to work or just simply listening, the mutual blessings are indescribable. Each time before I enter the home, I ask God to help me navigate the waters that are serving these ladies. Through him, I pray I have a hand in improving not only the quality of the moms’ lives, but those of their little babies not yet known to the world. What a full-circle blessing it would be if eventually some of those babies, so greatly motivated by their own gratitude, choose to come back in the future to be a part of the ministry, themselves. God bless the Elizabeth House.

~ Denese Taylor