When Sawsan arrived at Joshua Station with her three children, she carried more than just the weight of displacement—she carried the deep love of a mother fighting for her family’s future. As a refugee from Syria, Sawsan faced challenges familiar to many who leave everything behind in search of safety and stability. Yet, her greatest struggle was not just learning a new culture or a new language; it was caring for her eldest daughter, whose terminal illness had kept her in the hospital for months.

A few weeks ago Sawsan’s daughter finally came home—to Joshua Station, to hospice, to the embrace of a community committed to standing with them in love. Though the days are difficult, Sawsan does not walk them alone. And in the midst of it all, she persists courageously and with boundless hope. Read more here

From everything Sarah Eckenrode heard about Joshua Station, she knew this was the place where she wanted to rebuild her life. In fact, as soon as she heard she would be accepted into the program as a resident, she named her unborn son Joshua.

Sarah remembers being told not to worry about bringing anything—just clothes and Joshua. When Sarah walked into her Joshua Station residence for the first time, she was overcome. “I just cried. I couldn’t believe how beautifully decorated it was, personalized for my baby son and for me. The crib was just his size. I said, ‘Joshua, this is our new home!’” And she says the support at Joshua Station was even beyond what she expected. “I just love it here.”

“Sarah was very uncertain and insecure at first about how to do life, and to parent her son,” remembers her family advocate Ana Reyes. Little by little, Sarah gained confidence. With insights from staff and a parenting coach, Sarah realizes she needs to help Joshua, now age 2, become more independent and be ok out of her sight. Everybody enjoys Joshua’s big personality—always smiling, playing peek-a-boo, and waving.”

Sarah has worked hard in her pursuit of a career in the medical field, with assistance from Education and Employment Coordinator Maria Sierra. A recent setback in her education plans dealt a huge blow. “But nothing is going to stop me from my goal,” she declared in a recent community meeting. “Before, this would have brought me down and I would have given up. Not now, no way.”

“Sarah’s always saying how grateful she is for all that we’ve done for her,” Ana says. “But I remind her SHE is the one who has done the hard work. I’m just so proud of her. Her positivity and determination is inspiring to us all.”

“This is the first time in my life I haven’t been controlled by somebody” Sarah Sutton says. “It’s like I’ve been in a cult, and I’m finally free.”

Five years ago, in a first desperate step, Sarah began researching the words “narcissist” and “sociopath.” She was shocked to discover that her husband checked every single box. She thought back to a previous marriage, as a young woman with another abusive man who checked the same boxes. She remembered the crushing shame and guilt of leaving him, piled on by her church which viewed divorce as sinful. Now she didn’t know if she could face again the shame of leaving—but she had to consider her son Evran.

The decision left Sarah and Evran homeless. To survive even short term, she incurred a large credit card debt. In crisis, she found Joshua Station.

“I was ready to soar. But I was like a baby bird,” Sarah says. “I had no wind beneath my wings at all.” Read more here.

“The day before I came to Joshua Station, I was very scared,” says Georgina Valarde. “I started praying it would fall through.”

“Georgina’s past traumas left her extremely guarded, negative, and untrusting,” says Family Advocate Ana Reyes. “In the beginning I worked hard simply to rekindle trust.” Georgina’s start with Joshua Station was rocky, with anger and negativity affecting relationships.

To make matters worse, Georgina developed serious medical problems. “But I really think that hard situation prompted change,” Ana reflects. Georgina awakened to how she really did value her life. She treasured her children. She considered her blessings. She expressed a desire to really work on her life. At a key juncture Ana asked her pointedly, “What do YOU think you need to do to make that happen?”

With time, everyone observed dramatic changes in Georgina. She focused on our program and her goals. “I grew calm, and my daughters also grew calm,” she says. “There were bad times, but those things happened to make me stronger and helped me believe more in God. Things happen for a reason. It made me the strong and patient person I am today.”

With the help of our staff and her own hard work, Georgina was able to secure her own apartment not far from Joshua Station. She loves the independence, and we stay in touch through our Integration Program (supportive aftercare program).

“That weak and fearful person [who arrived at Joshua Station]? That person is gone. In everything I went through, I was supported. I have grown personally and spiritually, and I will never forget my experience at Joshua Station.”

Aaliyah Chavez comes from a very high achieving family. So it was no surprise when she graduated from high school, but it sure was a big celebration at Joshua Station!

Along with three younger kids in her family, Aaliyah’s academic work has been outstanding. Of course, it hasn’t been easy. “During the past year, I realized that I was really going to have to increase my focus to achieve my goals,” Aaliyah says. “I had to take it to a higher level. I’m proud that I did. I’m very aware that I’m the first person in my entire family line ever to graduate from high school. I know that I am paving the way for the others right behind me.”

Aaliyah must have a hovering taskmaster parent, right? “I just sit back and watch each of these guys do incredible things,” says Gwyneth, who is raising her four grandchildren at Joshua Station—including Aaliyah. “I sit down and listen to each child. Each one has their own pace. For Aaliyah, I give her the right look and she takes it to heart.”

Learning from her grandmother, Aaliyah places great value on passing on her indigenous tribal heritage—Oklahoma Seminole. She practices traditional songs and dances with shells and jingles. For Aaliyah’s graduation, her grandmother saved and sacrificed to commission a traditional dress—sewn by an elder in Oklahoma. Horizontal patterns in the dress represent different clans in Aaliyah’s lineage, for instance the Deer Clan in the symbols across the yellow field. As you can imagine, our whole Joshua Station family was bursting with pride as we celebrated with dancing in the courtyard.