Mentor Testimony

Deb

I learned about Street's Hope the first time I met Leanne and was amazed at the calling God had placed on Leanne's heart and the faith she had to step out and help women in this industry. When Leanne first approached me about being a mentor I must admit that I was nervous, actually fearful. She told me that being a mentor is probably the single most important thing that Street's Hope offers these women. I was scared because I knew that I was not going to be able to relate to what these women had been through. Could I be an encouragement to them and what would that look like. I knew becoming a mentor would be a commitment. It would require an investment of time, emotion, love, vulnerability and sacrifice. I told her I wanted to pray about it. If I was going to be a mentor to a woman who had the courage to come to Street's Hope for help I wanted to be sure that I could commit myself to her. Even though I had fears, I felt that God was calling me to become a mentor. Leanne told me what my mentee really needed was a friend and I was confident that I could be a friend and trusted God would take care of the rest.

The first time I met Pasha was over lunch where we got to know a little bit about each other while we laughed and cried together. As the months have passed Pasha has shared her life with me. We meet regularly to talk about her week and what is going on in her life. I am always encouraged by these meetings as I see the determination, in the midst of sometimes huge hurdles, to make a better life for her and her son. She shows strength in areas I have wondered if I could have been so strong. She is facing her hardships head on and realizing that she is not alone. She knows she has a support network and family in Street's Hope, she has a friend in me and more importantly she has a Father in Heaven who loves her more than she could ever dream and in the midst of all her pain and struggles that He is trustworthy and faithful. Her future holds new opportunities and I believe she is ready to pursue them and I look forward to seeing what God does.

I have been profoundly changed since becoming a mentor at Street's Hope. I see life through a different lens and I am so thankful for that. This really struck me in January when I was watching the Academy Awards. When the performance for best song came on for Hustle & Flow, "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp", I was sad at the portrayal of this lifestyle. Too many people watched that segment and were numb to what it represented. There may be pimps who don't want to be in this lifestyle, but they are still using women for their gain. The truth is there are pimps who force and abuse women into this lifestyle for their gain. I watched and didn't see this as just another song but as real life lived by women I have encountered.

Since being involved in these women's lives I realize that what I perceived would be huge barriers in our lives really aren't that huge. We all share the same hopes and dreams. We all want to be loved and accepted. We are all outcasts in some way or another. And the beauty is we are all created in the image of God and therefore are valuable.

Deb Adkisson

Deb and her husband Kirk are Church Planters of All Souls Presbyterian Church in Boulder Colorado.