Nine months ago, Cara, Becca and Timberly didn’t know each other but they did have a few things in common. They were all mothers and they were homeless. Little did they know that their lives would soon cross at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission’s Women and Family Shelter. Prior to coming to the Mission, Cara and Timberly struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. Becca had just graduated from Job Corp and was unemployed. Within weeks of each other, Becca, Cara and Timberly found themselves at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, in need of help. Since then, each woman has attended Bible studies, counseling sessions, and classes taught by Mission staff and volunteers. As they learned there were times of triumph. Other times were difficult as they struggled with parenting, addictions, and learning new computer and life skills. But in the end, all three women were able to overcome their individual challenges and graduate the Mission’s nine-month recovery program. This past April, Cara, Becca and Timberly bravely opened their hearts and shared their testimonies at their graduation in front of peers, Mission staff, family and friends. Tears were shed but they had smiles on their faces. As they walked across the stage to accept their certificate of completion they were hugged by their case manager and given a special memento – a Boyd’s Bear. “The bears are so sweet,” said Timberly. “This graduation was huge for me and it (the bear) is something to keep in memory of my graduation and what I’ve accomplished.” Today, Cara is working as an intern under the direction of a Mission-certified drug professional at the Women and Family Shelter. She plans to attend college in pursuit of the field so that she can help others with problems she once struggled with. Becca is praying about her next steps. She’s deciding between the shelter’s internship program or starting school. Timberly will soon be moving into permanent housing and starting school to become a medical assistant. "I’m closing one chapter in my life and opening a brand new one," said Timberly. (My family) can actually see the difference in me instead of me just telling them.”