Something was missing from our hearts, celebrating with our tightly packed women’s groups has been impossible due to COVID-19 restrictions. So, on Friday, May 28th, we finally headed outdoors to pick up our monthly tradition, and season it with a good old- fashioned shrimp and crawfish boil!
This event was packed with great music, laughter, cheering, clapping, and stomping in support of our recovering residents.
Change is hard, but recognizing change is imperative. At Santa Maria (SMH), we have learned that there is no substitute for recognizing and celebrating, change. As part of our regular programming, we have faithfully held a recovery recognition event on a monthly basis previous to the pandemic.
Coming together at our monthly recovering events also brings hope and encouragement to the many new individuals that are celebrating days free from drugs and alcohol. We are so proud of our residents and the hard work they have endured.
The women completing their programs took the microphone and shared inspiring messages of change. Everyone cheered them on, and they in turn, cheered on the staff.
We would like to thank Swatantra and Bimla Jain and the group of young professionals at Katy Rotaract for their generous donation and Joi and Angel from Joiful Entertainment that made this event possible. It was a magical and inspirational afternoon.
Rev. Tammy Heinrich, Pastor at Terrace United Methodist
For many years, Rev. Tammy Heinrich has been a beacon of light and inspiration for the residents of Santa Maria. As a Pastor at Terrace United Methodist, she regularly led groups at our Jacquelyn campus. Her infectious smile and sunny disposition brightened many events over the years.
When she agreed to speak at our recent Recovery Recognition event, we were thrilled! It had been sometime since we had connected, as her responsibilities were shifted in her current position at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Chapelwood, too, has always been an important faith community partner, so it was natural that her work there would eventually lead back to Jacquelyn House.
For the event, she was asked to deliver hope and inspiration. She did not disappoint. Residents and staff alike listened with rapt attention as she outlined some of the common stages of recovery and spiritual change which she put into three categories; running red lights, roadblocks and detours. She emphasized that these stages happened when we had too many “me to me” conversations in our head, not including those around us and our God.
The definitions of these stages were as follows:
Running Red Lights – pretending like there is no need to stop and pay attention to our behaviors, a “whole lot of denial”.
Roadblocks – telling oneself there is nothing to be done to come back from the things already done.
Detours – Believing that treatment is a detour before getting on with the rest of life, rather it is the actual path of your life.
Tammy recalls that her call to ministry came from a Bible Study she led to women in treatment for substance use disorder. She says, “I witnessed resurrection from one week to the next as I literally saw them come back to life. As my role in outreach ministry began to grow, I decided to enroll in graduate school (seminary). I had no intention of becoming a pastor, but God had other ideas.”
The community of recovery is a dynamic community that gives and takes. Service time becomes life-changing, life-affirming. We are thrilled that the residents and staff of Jacquelyn have met Rev. Tammy Heinrich and welcomed her hope and wisdom along our path. Thank you for your service, Tammy!
