Building Trust

At the beginning of our mission we were told one of the key elements of our success with the people we work with is building trust with them.  If you show genuine interest in them, express support and love, and back it up with actions, they will respond.

We feel we have built that trust with both Innocent and Alicia.  Innocent trusts and values my opinion and advise; particularly in helping him with his asylum applications.

Barbara, in particular, with Alicia has developed a tremendous trust level.  Alicia suffers from mental illness and depression.  She is on medication but recently had a relapse.  She feel into a deep depression.  To add to her situation her back and leg pain flared up not helping her depression.  I tell you this, in terms of trust, because one night Alicia text Barbara saying she can't take this any more and just wanted to die.  She wanted us to come and spend some time with her.  The next day we did.  I gave her blessing. It also was very evident that she and her family were in a mess so we went to McDonalds and bought them dinner to relieve some burdens.  Since then Barbara has been reaching out to her regularly with positive quotes about life and struggles.  She has since been back on her medication.  She asks Barbara for advise now on many things.  We feel now we can encourage church attendance and the blessings of the activity in the gospel now without Alicia thinking that is our only motive.  She knows that with all the help and support that we give her as well as Bishop Kruger she needs to participate more.  We are seeing a change in Alicia.  We hope it is for the better and sustainable.