May’s birthday was nothing short of a blessing. As a survivor, her life is a testimony of strength, healing, and God’s faithfulness. This celebration was a beautiful reminder of how Jesus has carried her, surrounded her with love, and walked with her every step of the way. Through Him—and through the incredible people He placed in her life—May truly received the birthday party of her dreams. We gathered with grateful hearts to celebrate God’s goodness over her life, sharing Mediterranean food, cinnamon rolls instead of cake, and so much laughter. May was wrapped in love, surrounded by family and friends, all brought together by Jesus and united in joy and thanksgiving. We are especially overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of one of our amazing supporters, whom Jesus used in a powerful way. Because of their obedience and kindness, May’s entire EMT course was paid for in full. What an incredible reminder that God provides—often exceeding what we could ever imagine. We are so incredibly proud of May—of her resilience, her courage, and the way she continues to step forward with faith and determination. We are deeply thankful that she is a part of the GFL family, and it is an honor to walk alongside her on this journey. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for her future and how He will continue to use her story, her strength, and her heart to impact others. This birthday was more than a celebration of another year—it was a celebration of survival, restoration, and the goodness of Jesus. We are so thankful for a Savior who redeems, restores, and blesses through community, generosity, and love. All glory to Him for making this day so special.
We are overjoyed to share a beautiful update from our Grace Family Love community. This season has been especially meaningful as we celebrate Ash, one of our Grace Family Love graduates, and her recent wedding to her husband, Jessie, in San Diego. It is hard to put into words the gratitude we feel as we reflect on her journey and all that God has done. Before coming to Grace Family Love, Ash did not know Jesus. She came as a skeptic, not believing that life or Jesus had anything good to offer her. She carried doubt, disappointment, and guarded hope, unsure if real love or lasting change was even possible. Through consistent love, patience, prayer, and genuine support from this community, Ash slowly began to encounter Jesus in a real and personal way. What started in skepticism was met with unwavering compassion, and over time her heart was softened by grace. Step by step, she experienced His healing, His faithfulness, and His unconditional love. A life once marked by doubt began to be transformed by hope and truth. One of the most incredible parts of this story is that this transformation did not stop with Ash. As her faith grew, it overflowed into her relationship with Jessie. Through Ash’s testimony, her changed life, and the steady presence of Christ in her daily walk, Jessie also came to know Jesus. Watching God work in both of their hearts has been a powerful reminder that love lived out consistently can open doors that words alone never could. Their wedding in San Diego was not just a celebration of marriage, but a celebration of redemption, restoration, and new life. It stood as a beautiful testimony to how far they have come and to their shared decision to build a marriage rooted in faith, love, and Christ at the center. We are deeply grateful for the privilege of walking alongside Ash on her journey and witnessing the goodness of God through her story. Thank you to everyone who prayed, showed up, loved faithfully, and invested in her life along the way. This is the heart of Grace Family Love, lives transformed through consistent love and the power of Jesus. We celebrate Ash and Jessie with full hearts and look forward to all that God has in store for their future together.
We’ve had some exciting things happening at Grace Family Love over the past couple of weeks! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we were finally able to purchase our 12-passenger van! This is such a tremendous blessing for us. Whether we’re traveling, heading to appointments, or simply going somewhere as a group, we can now all ride together in one vehicle. And with seven girls, you can imagine how much easier it is to have the extra space—especially for out-of-town trips and all those bags! We are truly grateful, and we cannot thank our community enough for making this possible. Last week, we also hosted our annual Fall Paint Night with Traveling Picazzo’s! The girls gathered together to paint ceramic owls, and it was such a fun, creative evening. We also welcomed a new girl into the home recently, so the event gave everyone a wonderful opportunity to connect, laugh, and strengthen relationships. Creativity is such a powerful outlet, and here at GFL we encourage the girls to dream big—sometimes that inspiration begins with art! With school and work keeping everyone busy, having a night to relax and unwind together was truly special. Thank you all for your continued support. We couldn’t do this without you!
Ash: Life after GFL Before joining GFL, Ash described herself as an atheist who was deeply hurting, closed off, and unable to trust others. Through her time in the program, she experienced healing and discovered a renewed sense of purpose. She recently shared her testimony at a GFL event and accredited much of her ability to change to the love she received from Vanessa who refused to give up on her. Ash is also grateful that she's been welcomed into the "GFL Family", all of whom she can still call upon today for whatever she may need, from advice to help during car trouble. Today, she is engaged to be married, has grown in confidence to begin modeling, and is boldly living out her faith as a professing Christian. Ash and her fiancé now joyfully attend Legacy Christian Church, walking in hope and a future she never imagined possible.
Samantha is one of our GFL girls who joined our organization in April. Despite facing challenges such as homelessness and a lack of familial support, Samantha has always known she wanted to pursue a career in nursing—an opportunity to transform her own experiences of hardship into a life of service and impact for others in her community. Since becoming part of Grace Family Love, Samantha has started working full-time as a front office assistant, enrolled in school part-time to pursue her RN degree, and recently began volunteering weekly at a local hospital, where she serves others every Saturday. At Grace Family Love, our mission goes beyond offering assistance and resources to girls overcoming extraordinary circumstances like homelessness, trafficking, and domestic violence. At the core of our program is a holistic approach: empowering young women to heal from trauma and find purpose and impact in the world around them. As Samantha continues her journey through the GFL program and commits to her passions, we invite you to join us in prayer for her. We are incredibly proud of her progress. Our hope is that she remains steadfast and encouraged in her healing process. Healing can be hard, but it’s easier when you know you're not doing it alone. Please pray that God would reveal Himself to her in ways that inspire and strengthen her as she works toward the better life she deserves.
Birthday filled with HOPE! Since joining Grace Family Love, Rhonda has finally been given the space to dream and the safety to hope again. After years of simply surviving, she now wakes up in a place where she is seen, valued, and supported. This year, her 19th birthday wasn’t just a celebration of another year—it was a joyful milestone filled with laughter, love, and renewed hope for her future. For the first time in a long time, Rhonda believes better days are ahead—and with your support, she’s starting to plan for them.
Ally Is Now Full-Time! Ally has already been such a faithful part of the Grace Family Love mission, but today we celebrate her stepping in, full-time! This wasn’t just a job change—it was a step of faith. When Ally felt God calling her to serve the girls at GFL with her whole heart and schedule, the monthly support wasn’t in place yet. But she still said yes, trusting that where God guides, He provides. And He did—through your loving support. To the generous soul who gave and made it possible for Ally to walk out her calling: thank you. You allowed God to use you as a vessel, and because of your obedience, a young woman is now fully released to serve those who need it most. This is what happens when the Body of Christ comes together—when each part does its part, we get to witness miracles in motion. We truly can’t do this without the community. Ally, we are so thankful for your "Yes". And to our GFL family—thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
GFL Date Night This past Thursday, Vanessa and I, planned a date night while the kids were at youth group. After dropping off the kids we received a call informing us about a young lady that had been homeless for four years and was ready for a change. She was in Visalia but she wanted to join us at GFL so we were able to coordinate a ride for her and met her in Selma. This didn't give us the prep time we usually have but when the Lord says, "go," you go. Thanks to our loving Legacy Family, we had the funds necessary to make a quick stop and put together a basket while we waited for her to arrive in Selma. This would not have been possible without your generosity. Thank you for helping us show her that she is loved and cared for.
Welcome Home! Join us in praying for and welcoming home, our new resident. She will come home on Monday, March 3, 2025, in the afternoon. A big heartfelt "Thank you" to The Legacy Christian Church family for coming together to provide the welcome basket. What a blessing it is to serve alongside you all. Please keep her in prayer as the first week is a crucial one. Blessings!
A Future Filled with Hope We are beyond grateful for the incredible partners who provide our girls with the hope of a safe and stable place to call home after their time at GFL. The security of having a place to lay their heads at night is life-changing, and we don’t take it for granted. We’re believing and praying for more opportunities like this, where our girls can step into independence with confidence. Please join us in praying that they can secure housing in this amazing new location. Every open door is a step toward healing, growth, and a brighter future! Thank you to everyone who continues to support and uplift these young women your generosity and prayers make all the difference! 💙