"...I began to learn that I didn't NEED to be rescued!"

Lorra Jones

I first came to Wings on a scholarship when I was newly divorced after 20 years of an oppressive and often abusive marriage, and was on my own for the first time in my life....I had a little baby PLUS seven more children to take care of! I was the BIGGEST victim anyone had ever had the nauseating privilege to meet...I was scared, didn't know what the future held or what I was going to do. I wanted someone to rescue me and take care of me! Preferably, someone with dark brown eyes and a hairy chest ;-) Well, that didn't happen like I thought it might.

I married when I was 19 and had never graduated from high school. At the age of almost forty, I had just received my GED...I didn't know WHAT exactly I was going to do, but I knew that going to college was one of my goals. I didn't want to raise my kids scrubbing toilets or flipping burgers! About that time, I met a hairy chested angel with dark brown eyes...my knight in shining armor had appeared! Except, he saw what a mess I was and that I was nowhere near ready for a relationship. Although he didn't rescue me like I thought, he directed me to Wings and made it possible for me to go to PES and then went his way. WOW...that changed my whole life! In a way, he did rescue me as I began to learn that I didn't NEED to be rescued!

After PES, I stepped out in faith and signed up for Crossover. I didn't have the money at the time, but it appeared in my life at the right time! Later, I did it again for Lifeworks. Each time I set my intention out there into the universe, the means to accomplish it materialized! I sent one of my daughters to True Colors, went skydiving (something I'd always wanted to do!), and the whole time was going to college full time...without going into debt! I also met someone else, almost made a HUGE mistake, but was reminded to "stop, look and listen"...listened to my gut and thankfully ended that relationship. Now I am in a healthy, caring relationship with someone where we give each other space and respect. Listening to the gut and making conscious choices is SO very important.

Yesterday, I just received the news that I was selected for a Ford Family Foundation Opportunity scholarship....I was one of 36 people chosen out of 581 applicants in all of Oregon and part of California....my entire cost of schooling is paid for up to my Bachelor's degree and possible beyond! What an honor! I'm definitely flying on WINGS!!!

I can't wait to live in Eugene; I'm planning on selling my house this summer and moving over there so I can begin going to the U of O. where I will be majoring in English. I'm planning to somehow get involved in Wings again once myself and my five children (still at home with me) are settled into school and our new life.

The tools learned at Wings truly change lives.

Lots of hugs!
Lorra Jones