Newsletter Story: Criselda & Mary Ann

Criselda moved into Texas Reach Out in early 2018, and one month after her arrival, Mary Ann became her mentor. This week, Criselda and Mary Ann shared about their mentor/mentee relationship and the impact it has had in their lives.

“Having a mentor made my transition less daunting,” Criselda shared. “I had somebody to help me navigate a world that I had not been apart of for 17 years. Mary Ann spent a lot of time with me and showed that someone cared about me and that I could trust again. She taught me how to apply the Word of God in my everyday life situations, how to cook, how to budget, and how to communicate and build relationships. I am grateful for TROM for giving me a place where I have resources to start a new chapter in my life.”

When sharing why she volunteers as a mentor, Mary Ann explained that “the Lord brought me to this place of serving, and it has been a blessing to me to see the growth of the ladies that God has entrusted me to mentor. TROM is a wonderful place to serve because you see the benefits of the ladies having a safe place surrounded by fellow sisters in Christ. The support of spiritually grounded mentors is much needed for the growth of the ladies in their walk with Christ and the adjusting back into a community.”

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see someone who has grown into a stable, confident, grounded, sweet young lady. Criselda is honest and reliable and someone I can trust. I am grateful that she has learned to trust me and that we can share about our lives and family. Mentoring Criselda has shown me that someone who ha been incarcerated for so long can do anything and succeed with God and someone to help in their walk.”

“I have learned that mentoring is not only good for the mentee but for the mentor as well. We have formed a friendship that will last a lifetime. And I will always be available to her as she continues to grow in the Lord and in her journey of life once she leaves TROM.”