Monica, Felix and their 5 children.

Community partnerships made the day special

Monica’s childhood was full of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. “I grew up in a really toxic family. It was really hard; it was very abusive towards my mom and (us) kids. My dad would always hit my mom every day,” she recalled. “It was really traumatic to see the same thing every day and not even being loved.”

Monica met Felix, and they had five children together. The apartment they were renting was full of pests. Hoping it would motivate the landlord to fix the issues, Monica and Felix decided to withhold rent. Instead, on May 1st, the police were sent to evict the family. Monica called RMA San Fernando Valley for an interview. “We had $20 left in our pocket. When we got the call that we were accepted, that saved us, because we had nowhere else to go.”

Monica recalled how emotional it was for her family when they first arrived, especially for the children. “Once my kids came here, they felt at home. They felt peace. They knew they were going to be in a bed. ... They love this place,” she said. Monica praises the parenting and communication classes for bringing her family closer. “Felix and I communicate better now, with each other and with our children. I didn’t know how to show my kids love, since I wasn’t shown any (growing up). Now I hug them, kiss them. They know that they are loved.”

Not only has the Mission been a clean, safe haven for Monica, Felix and their children, it’s also brought their family closer to God. After staying at the Mission for three months, Monica and Felix decided to dedicate their lives to God. The local pastor told them that in order for them to get baptized, they had to get married.

So, they did! RMA SFV Director Josie Casarrubias was delighted to make it happen. The Mission partnered with Mount Bible Church and community partners to make the day extra special for the couple. Hair and makeup services, special attire for the family, food, decorations, and the wedding cake were all donated. Monica even found her “dream” wedding dress (brand new!) at our North Hollywood Super Thrift store. “It was like it was meant for me. It was a (perfect) fit. It was really special and exciting,” Monica said. On October 5th, surrounded by the love of their community and family, Monica and Felix wed.

“It was a really special day for our family,” Monica said. “We wanted to break the cycle; we wanted to show our kids something different. We wanted to teach them that giving your everything to God is one of the most important things in life.” The wedding also connected Monica with her estranged father. “I called him and told him I was getting married, and he was happy for me. When he came (to the wedding), I started crying. I haven’t seen him in over four years. It’s brought us closer.” When asked to describe how her family feels today, Monica keeps it short and sweet: “safe and loved.”