It's hard to imagine anyone growing up without a great Christmas memory. It seems we all remember walking through the snow to pick out the "perfect" tree, or receiving that special gift, or getting together with relatives.

But Marcia doesn't recall any Christmas events like those.

Much of her early life is forgotten—the result of sexual abuse as a child. An undetected learning disability marred her school progression, never developing personally, socially or spiritually. "When I grew up, there was no 'special education.' I was just 'slow,'" Marcia says. "I had trouble holding conversations and couldn't grasp abstract thoughts."

When she reached adulthood, tests at a local university revealed her learning disability and another surprising result—a very high IQ. "I stopped believing that I was stupid and began to live with confidence," she says. The event also resulted in a spiritual awakening. Marcia "got honest with God"—a miracle for someone who struggles with the abstract—and asked Him for answers about her life.

But her background and social awkwardness had lasting impacts that led to homelessness. "I was still different from other people. It was hard for me to get along with anyone. If I got a job, I couldn't maintain it. As odd as it sounds, being homeless was where I could find structure in my life."

Marcia traveled the country as a homeless person, but being female on the streets is stressful. Alone in Grand Forks, the pressure was too great. She couldn't sleep, afraid of what might happen to her. So police brought her to Northlands Rescue Mission in the middle of the night.

"This is one of the best, most organized, gracious missions I've experienced," she says. "Religion is not forced on anyone, but the staff are godly people. I'm relaxed here, enjoying what God is doing in my life. And I'm able to sleep in peace."

Last year was Marcia's first Christmas at the Mission. "Over the years, I'd just written Christmas off, because of my family. Being here, we get treated like kids around the tree. We get presents donated by folks from the community. It's just really special."

Marcia is grateful that holiday spirit lasts throughout the year. "We get Christmas every day here—the love of Christ through the staff ministering to us," she says.

Thanks to friends like you who give your support so faithfully, we can share God's message of love and new beginnings all year long.