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I wanted to share a story with you that captures why Lisa and I continue to invest so much of our lives in River Rose.

As many of you know from previous updates, we have been walking alongside a young woman and her father, who are currently staying in our guest house.

She spent much of her childhood without stable housing and only reconnected with her father a few years ago. Life has not been easy for either of them. Even now, they continue to experience setbacks and challenges that most of us rarely have to think about.

Yet in the middle of those challenges, something remarkable is happening.

Over the past month, she has earned her driver's license, received her first cell phone, and recently secured a job at a local burger restaurant. For many young adults, these milestones may seem ordinary. For someone who has spent much of her life simply trying to survive, they represent something much bigger:

Independence. Responsibility. Hope.

One of the challenges she still faces is transportation. The van she and her father have relied on for housing barely runs. Without dependable transportation, keeping a job becomes difficult.

This is where another River Rose story intersects with hers.

Over the past two and a half years, we've been supporting another individual who was struggling to find stability. Through hard work, coaching, encouragement, and opportunities, he has gone from earning occasional hourly wages to building his own small business. Today, he owns a truck, trailer, riding mower, chainsaws, and landscaping equipment, and is steadily growing his company.

Saturday, he offered to sell her an older Volkswagen Beetle for just $300.

It wasn't perfect, but it was a chance.

Last night, that little Beetle stalled near our property.

As Lisa and I were returning home from a girls' softball game about thirty minutes away, we saw her parked on the side of the road. She assured us she was fine and explained she had brought along a battery from the van just in case she ran into trouble.

Reflecting on the situation, Lisa commented on her incredible resourcefulness and resilience.

A little later, I noticed she was still stranded.

This time, another car had stopped.

When I walked over, I discovered a couple from a local church had seen her on the side of the road and decided to help.

What happened next felt like something that only happens in a small town.

Not only did they help jump-start the car, but they also own a Volkswagen Jetta and had previously owned two Beetles.

The husband looked over the car and noticed a burned-out taillight and several other parts that needed attention.

Then they said something remarkable.

"We've got extra parts from our old Beetles. We'd be happy to come by and help."

At that moment, all of us just stood there smiling.

Lisa and I are people of faith. The couple who stopped are people of faith.

And standing there on the side of the road, it felt like one of those moments that remind you how connected a community can become when people choose to care.

A young woman trying to build a future. A River Rose graduate now running his own business. A couple leaving church who happened to stop and help. A handful of old Volkswagen parts.

None of it seemed significant on its own.

Together, it felt like grace.

There are dozens of stories like this happening at River Rose every month. Most are small. Most will never make headlines. But these are the moments that remind us why we do this work.

Your generosity helped us provide temporary housing. Your generosity helped us support her journey toward independence. Your generosity helped create the opportunity for her to purchase a car.

Most importantly, your generosity allows us to stay involved long enough to help people move beyond crisis and begin building a future.

That's the difference.

Many organizations can help someone through a difficult moment. Our goal is to walk alongside people long enough for lasting change to become possible.

That takes time. It takes patience. It takes coaching. It takes setbacks and second chances.

And it takes friends like you.

Later that evening, I shared the whole story with Lisa. We sat quietly, shaking our heads in amazement. There are moments in life that seem too perfectly woven together to dismiss as coincidence. As tears filled our eyes, we found ourselves humbled and grateful, asking the same question:

What kind of door did we just walk through?

Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We see the impact every day.

Please continue to keep this young woman, her father, and the many others connected to River Rose in your prayers.

With gratitude,

Rex & Lisa Miller