Off the Streets and on to College

When John arrived in Grand Forks last April, the last thing he expected was a snowstorm. He’d come all the way from Texas, hoping to start a new life away from trouble and drugs.

With just a few dollars in his pocket, he found a room at a rundown hotel for a few nights. He didn’t know what he was going to do when his money ran out. Thankfully, he met a man at his day labor job who told him about Northlands Rescue Mission.

“This was my first time in a mission, John shares. “I wasn’t expecting to find something like this. [The staff] tries to make you feel at home. They provide three meals a day—and the meals are good!

John appreciates having a safe, comfortable place to sleep and food to eat, but he is also thankful for the wise counsel he’s received from our staff and volunteers.

“They’ve kept me out of trouble. They seem to know when things are bothering me and are always willing to help, John says.

Currently, John is working at the Mission in our administrative office. But soon he plans to enroll in college.