Every Girl, Everywhere

Something you may not know about me is I serve as the Director of the Women and Children’s Shelter for the Union Gospel Mission in Pasco, Washington.

In July of 2022, my husband, my parents, and myself made the 3-day trip from Fort Worth, Texas to move to our permanent address of Tricities, Washington. My husband was offered the position of Youth Pastor at C3 TriCities Church and in June of 2022, while we were interviewing for the church, I started an interview process with the Union Gospel Mission.

It was never meant to turn into what it is today…or at least in my plans, it wasn’t. Yet, you and I both know God’s plans never match up with our own, they are always better.

To be honest, I had no idea what this position entailed or even what working at the UGM would look like. However, as quickly as the position was offered, I said yes. I walked away from the interview process eager for what was to come while serving the UGM.

As we showed my parents around Tricities, my husband drove us past the Women and Children’s Shelter, where I would start work the next week. Driving past the shelter, you could hear the jaws drop from my parents and myself. You see, I never actually saw the shelter before saying yes to the job. The Women and Children’s shelter is located in a rough spot of Pasco, Washington. There was nothing glamorous about the location and the reality of the need spoke for itself.

My heart began to pound with fear. The questions of “who am I?” and “what have I said ‘Yes’ to?” began to race through my mind. I had no background or knowledge in substance abuse, domestic violence, or mental illness. I didn’t know the difference between a Dab Pen or Vape, what difference of smell drugs had, or how to know if mental illness was in affect or if a person was high. Why did this place hire me? What did they see in me?

During my interview process all I could focus on was my passion for helping women, but I never paused to imagine the pain I would be helping the women from.

Three days later I started my first day at the Women and Children’s Shelter.

I was terrified.

During my first month of work, I couldn’t stomach an appetite, I hovered over the toilet that staff and clients shared, and my interactions with the women on the streets were completely rooted in fear. In Texas, the year before, I was a 7th grade Bible Teacher where I was referenced as “Mrs. Biondolillo” or “Mrs. April”, but here I was given other names… ones, I probably shouldn’t type out.

Approaching my second month of work, we became short staffed and I was required to work nights by myself. Everything inside of me wanted to scream with fear. I felt unqualified and unprepared. Working day shifts gave me a little more comfort, especially because I had my director with me so I could lean on her when I was a bit shaky. Yet, without me knowing, it was time to remove the training wheels and put on a brave face.

Would someone come for an intake who was intoxicated? Would I be cursed out for enforcing a rule? Would I have to ask someone to leave for using fetinol in the back bathroom? Would the individual become dangerous and I need to call the police? Would another man come demanding where his girlfriend is at? Or maybe it would be a client triggered, yelling at me to fix the problem?

So maybe it’s not hard for you to understand the thoughts consuming my mind telling me I was in the wrong workplace. The emotions of feeling not enough, unqualified, and completely out of place as I would try to find the words to bring hope or goodness into dark and barren places.

However, working those night shifts all alone, something changed. I changed.

God began to rid me of all my fears and insecurities and he used one woman to do it. I’ll give her the name, Miriam.

Miriam had an addiction to alcohol. She had visited our shelter a few times, but it never lasted long. The craving for alcohol was too strong. Miriam faced a lot of loss and pain in her lifetime and she didn’t make the best choices. She was consumed with guilt and shame. She believed so many lies about herself and had a very difficult time accepting there was a God who loved her and chose her while she still was a sinner.

Yet, on those few night shifts where I worked by myself, Miriam and I began to talk. We would ask each other questions and during those conversations, I found a friend. One night in particular she was really wrestling with seeing herself as worthy with all the wrong she had done, and I got to share what Jesus had done in my life. I told her if He could do it with me, He could do it with her. We cried together and prayed together that night. Her story touched mine and I was reminded of this truth: God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the Called.

It didn’t matter I didn’t share the same background as most of these women. It didn’t matter my degree wasn’t in social work or psychology. It didn’t matter what my background was, my age, or experience. All that mattered is I loved Jesus and I wanted to love these women the same way He loves me.

I learned to master the art of listening and most importantly, a student of empathy and compassion. I wanted the women I met with to know they had a name, they were seen, they were loved, and they had value.

A few weeks later my friend, Miriam, left the shelter and shortly after leaving she died due to alcohol poisoning.

I wept.

In a matter of moments, a woman changed my life. She taught me to SEE. My eyes were blind, but because of her, I SEE. And I want everyone to see and know EVERY GIRL EVERYWHERE.

Today, I have confidence and peace that Miriam IS WITH JESUS. She is healed and whole. Thank God He sees our hearts. He knows our struggle and pain, because He was human too, and I know he understood Miriam’s pain.

Miriam is one story. Yet, I could tell you thousands more. The women I have met have changed my life.

Where I thought I didn’t belong, God began to show me otherwise and in February of 2023, I was offered the position of Director at the Women and Children’s Shelter, and as quickly as the position was offered, I said yes.

People have asked,” isn’t this position conflicting with your nonprofit, Cherish Ministry?

You know, I wrestled with this same question, but then God reminded me of my tagline for Cherish…

EVERY GIRL, EVERYWHERE.

I am safe to say, I am right where God wants me.

The work I get to participate in is a gift I don’t deserve. Every day I am humbled and honored that God chose me to be an extension of his love, grace, and redemption to the women I meet.

Oh, you should also know, I don’t hover over toilet seats now. In fact, I don’t even wait for women to come to the door to check in anymore, I go running straight to them.