Lisa’s Story

Lisa C. has been trusting God for decades. A graduate of Light of Life’s program 25 years ago, she has had a long journey with recovery, homelessness and faith. After completing the program with her four children, Lisa stayed clean  but struggled for many years. She moved to Ohio for thirteen years before returning to Pittsburgh, living on and off the streets at different times.

“I had been praying and asking God for my purpose. What do you want me to do? Send me Lord, I’ll go. And then Sherry called me.“

Now Lisa lives in Sister’s Recovery House, an apartment building owned by Light of Life located on Pittsburgh’s North Side. She is the House Mom, and the role has been a great fit. “My door is always open,” Lisa says. “This is a no judgment zone, because I’ve been there. So, I kind of understand where they’re at and where they’re going, and I allow them to think instead of telling them. Because that’s the way I had to do it. That helped me get through.”

Sister’s House is currently at maximum capacity. Ten women live in community and recovery. Lisa describes Sister’s House in two words: sisterhood, and unity. The women attend weekly house meetings, volunteer at the Mission each week, and take turns planning family nights. Lisa particularly loves these evenings of board games, movies, and dinners, and is known to fill up a big bowl of popcorn when the women are spending time together. “We stand up and hold hands in unity and pray. I thought that was very important. And I know God gave me that one.”

Through struggles like the death of her son, homelessness, and addiction, Lisa has stayed clean and learned to trust God in all that she does. Thinking back on her time in Light of Life’s program, Lisa recalls one spiritual retreat in particular as a breaking point. “You had to look at you,” she says of that experience. “It was deep.” Now Lisa says she has come full circle, living in Sister’s House and leading and supporting the women currently in the program. “[Lisa] really is amazing,” says one of the women living in the house, “and her spirit is just beautiful. When she prays I feel it. I just want to cry because I feel the love from her and how she feels it from God.”