From a VW to a Camper

One of the biggest obstacles for Lucy and Brian has been transportation.

The van they rely on barely runs. Without dependable transportation, it becomes difficult to keep a job, attend appointments, or build the consistency that independence requires.

That's where another River Rose story unexpectedly intersected with theirs.

Over the past two and a half years, we've also been helping another individual who came to River Rose looking for a fresh start. Back then, he survived on occasional labor jobs paying $12 to $15 an hour. Today, he owns his own lawn-care business with a truck, trailer, riding mower, chainsaws, and a growing list of customers.

Recently, he offered to sell Lucy a Volkswagen Beetle for $300.

Not because that's what it was worth.

Because he understood what a reliable vehicle could mean to someone trying to get on their feet.

A few weeks ago, that little Beetle stalled near our property.

As Lisa and I were returning home from a girls' softball game, we spotted Lucy on the side of the road. She assured us she was okay and explained she had prepared for the possibility by bringing along a battery from the van.

When you've spent years navigating uncertainty, you learn how to improvise.

Later, I noticed she was still stranded.

This time, another vehicle had stopped.

When I walked over, I met a couple who had just left a church gathering and decided to help.

What happened next felt almost unbelievable.

Not only did they help get the car running, but they were also longtime Volkswagen enthusiasts who had owned multiple Beetles themselves. As they looked over the car, they noticed several small repairs it needed.

Then they smiled and said:

"We have those parts."

Not similar parts. The exact parts.

And they offered to bring them over and install them.

Standing there on the side of the road, we all just shook our heads.

The timing. The people. The circumstances.

None of it felt accidental.

We ran into another problem, and here again we couldn't help noticing another parallel.

For nearly a week, we thought the Beetle was done for. We assumed it was headed for the scrap yard. Then Brian took it out on the highway, let it run, and suddenly it came back to life.

I've seen something similar happen with people.

Sometimes what looks broken isn't beyond repair.

Sometimes people simply need opportunity, encouragement, and enough support to become who they were created to be.

When the car came back to life, Lisa and I reflected at dinner on what we were witnessing.

We sat quietly replaying each detail.

The former River Rose participant who sold the car. The young woman determined to keep moving forward. The couple who stopped to help. The unexpected Volkswagen parts. The dozens of small decisions that somehow converged into one moment.

As Lisa and I reflected on everything that had happened, we realized the story wasn't just about Lucy and Brian.

It was changing us, too.

When they first arrived, the plan was simple. They would stay in the guest house for a night or two while Lisa helped Lucy work toward getting her driver's license.

That was the plan.

What unfolded was something entirely different.

A few days became a few weeks. One step led to another. A driver's permit became a driver's license. A phone led to a job. A job created the need for transportation. A broken-down Volkswagen became the catalyst for new friendships and unexpected acts of generosity.

Again and again, we've watched what happens when we stop trying to control the outcome and simply focus on the next faithful step.

This kind of life doesn't follow project plans or predetermined timelines. Managing projects explains my career. I'm reminded, people are not projects. We're being asked to live with uncertainty, to be patient with the process, and to trust that the next step will become visible when it's time to take it.

Along the way, strangers become friends, small acts of kindness become turning points, and what look like coincidences begin to feel like something more.

As we sat together that evening, humbled by everything that had unfolded, we found ourselves asking the same question:

What kind of door just opened before us?

The Bridge We Are Building

The next stage of Lucy and Brian's transition toward independence comes to roughly $3,500:

• $900 – Purchase and repairs for the Volkswagen Beetle
• $1,000 – Down payment on the camper that will become their home
• $1,600 – River Rose monthly support costs that make this transition possible, including temporary housing, transportation, coaching, property maintenance, and the day-to-day support that helps people move beyond crisis and toward stability

Most programs help people survive a crisis.

River Rose exists to help people move beyond crisis.

That requires temporary housing. Transportation. Coaching. Work opportunities. Accountability. Second chances.

And enough time for people to begin imagining a future they never thought possible.

Thank you for believing that people deserve more than a rescue.

They deserve a chance to build a life.

Four months ago, Lucy and Brian were living day to day, uncertain where they would sleep.

Today, Lucy has a driver's license, a phone, a job, transportation, and a pathway toward independence.

The next chapter is within reach.

Thank you for helping us build that bridge.

With gratitude,

Rex & Lisa Miller

Lucy & Brian's Progress Since February

February

• Arrived at River Rose after living without stable housing
• Began helping with projects around the property
• Started rebuilding daily routines and responsibilities

May

• Moved into the River Rose guest house
• Began preparing for a driver's license

June

• Earned a driver's permit
• Earned a driver's license
• Received a first personal cell phone
• Secured a first job at a local burger restaurant
• Purchased a Volkswagen Beetle
• Secured a higher-paying job (with tips)

Next Goals

• Reliable transportation
• Stable housing
• Steady employment for Brian
• Transition toward independent living