How a donated vehicle changed things for Kenia and her family.
In interviews with potential clients, I often find myself asking if I could make the same hard decisions they made; if I too could go through the struggles they have endured and still fight on and still manage to find joy and hope. Listening to our newest client, Kenia, these thoughts went through my head as she described the hardest choices she’s had to make - of leaving her home and all she knew to save the lives of her children. You see, in El Salvador her husband had threatened to kill their oldest son if he wouldn’t join his gang, and when the son refused, the father burned their home down.
Kenia was able to get her three kids (then 3, 6, and 9) out of El Salvador, sending them to live with a relative in the States; however, doing so meant being separated from them for two years. Desperately hoping her children were being cared for and loved, Kenia labored to find a safe place for their family, and was finally able to make her way to the US where she could be with her kids. When she was reunited with her children, she found they had not been provided and cared for as she had hoped, but Kenia was able to gain back their custody and start fresh in Dallas. With a job secured, Kenia began saving for a vehicle that would help her take her kids to much-needed doctor and dentist appointments, to school, and her to work. Until then, Kenia borrowed vehicles and spent hard-earned money on rideshares to get her and her kids everywhere they needed to go. Finally, after many months, Kenia was able to save a couple thousand dollars that could go toward a car.
One of the more distressing and infuriatingly consistent elements of our clients’ stories is how often predators show up to pounce on people who are in desperate and vulnerable situations. In Kenia’s story, it was at this point that a neighbor offered to sell her a vehicle that wasn’t functioning properly and on a payment plan that amounted to three times its actual (and running) value. When Kenia realized the car wasn’t running properly, the neighbor turned violent and forcefully took the vehicle back and demanded more money from her. This situation left her with no savings, no vehicle, and without a sufficient credit history in the United States, she couldn’t get a loan to replace the car.
Kenia, with her Advocate Esther from the IRC
When Kenia came to our interview, her Advocate, Esther with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said she has never met someone so hard-working and full of hope as Kenia. With great joy, earlier this month we were able to give Kenia the keys to a 2011 Ford Focus that was donated to OnRamp DFW by Jacob, a young man who was moving out of the country. What a wonderful contrast Jacob is to the people who have taken advantage of Kenia! Rather than selling his car and using the funds to help his upcoming move, this young man instead chose to give his car to someone whose life it could change.
At the giveaway, Jacob’s parents were on hand to celebrate the momentous occasion. Esther shared how Kenia’s oldest son (now 12) is overjoyed for his mom to be able to come to his soccer games. Tears ran down Kenia’s face as she repeated “I have no words to thank you. I have no words.”
Praying over Kenia and her family
It is such a great blessing to be a positive part of our clients’ journeys. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the people God brings us.
If you would like more information about how to donate a vehicle to OnRamp DFW, please email us at info@onrampdfw.org
