Part 3: A Wednesday Evening Ministry of Hope

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Part 3: Amaya’s song

Amaya spent about 6 days in the Eugene Mission’s Rescue Shelter before moving to the Women’s Center. She had been living with her sister, but a time came when she had to move out. She was about four months pregnant, scared and very tired.

“I felt like God was asking me to stay here, and I couldn’t understand why,” she said. Amaya had never lived in a shelter before and she was deeply worried that she would never be able to prepare and get everything she needed in time for the birth of her baby.

One of the first places where she found comfort and community was the Wednesday evening Bible study, which is open to guests in both the R3 Program and Rescue Shelter. “It’s nice being around people who aren’t going to judge you, who help hold you accountable to keep going, be vulnerable without having to feel forced into something,” she said. “It’s a very kind, slow-paced type of love.”

The process of preparing for birth while living at the Mission was at first terrifying, she said. “As a mom, you want to be able to nest and to have certainty about everything and I felt like I didn’t have that,” she said. “But looking back, I can definitely see that the people around me kept me calm.”

In fact, the week she was induced all the fears and worries melted away. “I was able to get a portable pump, nursing bed, a bunch of clothes, formula,” she said. “I had everything I was ever worried about right there in my dorm at the Women’s Center. It took a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

Her room also had a little fridge and she was able to eat more. Her baby hadn’t been getting enough nourishment and was struggling to gain weight, but after she moved in, the two began to thrive.

She did have one scary day in which her baby had been still inside her womb. She began listening to a song by Elevation Worship where someone sang a line that went, “I got this joy that won’t let go.” Amaya was praying and worshipping during the song and then she felt her baby kick and it was her strongest kick yet.

“I was thinking about what her name would be and she got so excited when that song went on,” Amaya shared. “So I named her Joy!”

Throughout the months, Amaya began to find more hope as she connected with others, including at the Bible study and a church, New Hope, where she immediately felt a sense of happiness and belonging. Amaya is looking into attending New Hope Christian College with an interest in becoming a pastor or Christian counselor.

She still has her tough days, but she says she keeps getting up and moving forward.

“I’m as strong as I can be for my daughter because that’s what I have to do, and I’m strong in that way for others, but I don’t want people to just see a strong mom,” she said. “I want them to know I’m human, things get to me as well. Sometimes it gets frustrating and hard, but giving up is when you lose.”