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A Transformation that Feeds the Soul

A Transformation that Feeds the Soul • Regina Power
Regina came to Journey to New Life after serving six years for her sixth DUI. You can read the first part of her journey here. But, as we know, one journey’s end is just another journey’s beginning. That’s certainly true for Regina. While she had done a lot of healing and reflection during her time in prison, she says she can’t help but wonder how different things would have turned out if her family had not stopped visiting her while she was incarcerated. “I can’t help but imagine what it would have been like if my family had stayed in contact, and I went back to St. Joe. What would that look like for me today?” she said. “And I can tell you I would have been cheated out of a very joyful and fulfilling life because here in Kansas City with Journey to New Life, I can be not only a mother, grandmother, employee, or other ‘role,’ I can be Regina.”

For Regina, it was unusual for her family to do that, to drop out of contact. It wasn’t like them. They were close knit, but she believes it was an opportunity that came at the right time because it allowed her to be open to letting God work in her life. She considers it a blessing that, during the last years of her incarceration, she was able to focus on improving herself and understanding who she was as an individual. She’s also thankful that her home plan involved Journey to New Life’s Journey House. Living in the house with other women who were on similar journeys, together with access to the support and resources available there, enabled her to continue the work she’d begun.

Regina Power

I can’t imagine Journey to New Life not existing. I have literally watched it change peoples’ lives. It’s been everything to me. We need this. It’s good for everyone.
— Regina Power

Today, she’s still living at Journey House working as a Peer Support Specialist and House Manager, a role that she finds very gratifying. “It’s rewarding for me because I get to be a part of what these sisters gave me,” she said. “I get to be the one who can look beyond the behaviors, love them and be able to bring out those great qualities. To watch them transform into very confident, kind — and worthy — individuals is amazing and to see them recognize that is quite the feat.”

Being at Journey House has taught Regina how to live amongst others in a healthy way. She has tremendous gratitude for not only the people who operate the organization, but also all those in the community who support it through donations, volunteering and advocacy. “I can’t imagine Journey to New Life not existing. That just brings a lot of emotion to the surface for me because it’s a wonderful program,” she said. “I have literally watched it change peoples’ lives. It’s been everything to me. We need this. It’s good for everyone. I can’t imagine any other job that would feed my soul like this one does.”

In the coming days, we’ll share more client stories and testimonials that are only made possible thanks to the generous support of our community.

Due to the global pandemic, Journey to New Life is not able to have its annual fundraising event in 2020. This significantly impacts the organization’s ability to continue to help those, like Regina, who sometimes just need a hand up.

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