The road to dignity

June woke up yesterday at 4:15am, excited about her first day on her new job at Western Digital, the hard disk manufacturer.  June is nearly 27, but this is the first "real job" that she has ever had.  Our staff are skeptical--June is not known for dependability.  Even while much improved recently after a few months in addiction rehab, her work habits at The Well were anything but stellar.  She would often complain of head and stomach aches and want to take time off.  How in the world would she be able to stand up to a real factory job?  June insisted she could do it, and rented a room near the factory, about an hour north of Bangkok.

June came to us nearly 3 years ago out of jail, at age 24.  Her story is one of the most difficult we have seen.  Beaten and neglected as a child, on her own from age 13, June grew into fighting, prostitution and drugs.  Her life, she says, had no value, no meaning, no dignity.  Her first child, a daughter, was born when June was 15.  She also has a son, now 5.  

June came to us full of addictions and immaturity, and continued to act those out.  We had a lot of ups and downs with June, and nearly lost her back to her old life more than once.  At the same time we saw in her a sincere desire to get rid of those things and be, as she called it, "a normal person".  She also showed incredible natural gifting in many areas, with a magnetic personality.  Someday I believe June is going to be a leader that will impact many.  

Her first day on the job went well.  She liked the clean, dust-free environment, which should be good for her given her history of sinus trouble.  Her first payday is the 22nd.  This indeed will be a challenge for June, but a good one for her, a step in feeling like a responsible parent and contributing member of society.  She told me that she would like to do this for a year, until she finishes her high school equivalency, and that if the door is open for her to work with us at The Well, she would like to come back.  I don't see her as high-level staff for a few years, but even as an assistant counselor and mentor to teens she could have a lot to offer.  We'll be looking forward to it.

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Marie
Posts: 2

June
Reply #2 on : Fri February 08, 2008, 10:26:01

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This gives me fuel for prayer.

Bill
Posts: 2

good news
Reply #1 on : Tue February 05, 2008, 10:50:06

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Thanks for the update, Jim. I'm glad she's out of rehab now and is staying connected to y'all. I'll be praying for her.