MEI 2nd Quarter Partnership Support

hope805.org Ministry & Crisis Response Report

During this past quarter, the majority of my full-time response efforts have been focused on serving one high-risk disaster survivor and widow in severe emotional, financial, and housing crisis.

Since the end of March, I have provided daily 7-day-a-week crisis intervention, emotional support, advocacy, stabilization assistance, transportation coordination, practical care, and ongoing trauma-informed chaplain support for a 71-year-old widow suffering from a severe nervous breakdown following the recent death of her husband.

Both she and her husband lost their employment during the COVID period and were never able to financially recover. As a result, they fell significantly behind on their mortgage obligations, HOA fees, and essential living expenses, creating ongoing threats of housing instability and overwhelming emotional distress. He passed unexpectedly on his way to pick her up from a women’s retreat.

This response has required extensive time investment involving continual crisis management, emotional de-escalation, resource coordination, compassionate presence, and practical assistance aimed at helping stabilize her immediate living conditions and mental well-being during an extremely vulnerable season of life.

This case continues to require consistent daily follow-up care and long-term support due to the complexity of grief, trauma, isolation, financial hardship, and age-related vulnerability. I am thrilled to report that this client, resident & widow, has recommitted herself 100% to her childhood Christian Faith and is faithfully attending Mission Church Ventura with great hope. She has also just this week connected to a Christian Clinical Psychiatrist through her PCP at Kaiser Permanente here in Ventura to assist and direct with her ongoing mental health healing.

While in the midst of this commitment I was able to complete three of the required six all day recertification courses from CTC, Crises Training Centers. Three more courses to complete in June & July.

My upcoming planned deployments for the next six months include:

* The hope805.org “26th Summer Of Service” in Oregon, assisting two families in July and August with repairs & property rehab support

* A full month in Mazatlan, Mexico with hopes to connect annually in support of Homes Of Hope

* A four to six week outreach in Vietnam

* My highest priority is to always be prepared to respond to both Local & International Disasters such as the current Sandy Brushfire, just 35 miles from my home that is only 30% contained

“Thank you MEI for your continued partnership and support which helps make this level of compassionate crisis care possible”

rik frye

First Responder Chaplain, Ordained