In the dictionary, SUCCESS is defined as follows: “The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.” The implication is that the job is complete; that it's a done deal. But very real successes are occurring all around us without a lot of fanfare and with one sobering footnote—there is still a whole lot of work to do.

Kim Arnold, pictured on the right, is one such success. When she came to our mobile Technology Education Vehicle about a year ago, she was living with her boyfriend, working odd jobs, and trying to kick a heroin habit. She would come to the Technology Education Vehicle every Tuesday just to talk to George Mulak, our Strong Beginnings Career Developer, and other Christian volunteers working with George. It was more than likely her only connection to normal life.

On Valentine's Day of 2003, her boyfriend was found dead in his car of an apparent suicide. This rocked Kim's world beyond her ability to cope. No longer able to pay the bills, she moved in with her sister (a less-than-desirable environment), but was spiraling out of control, still relying on drugs as her only source of comfort.

This is where the power of compassion meant the difference between life and death for Kim. The Orange County Rescue Mission's House of Hope for homeless women and children was full, so George took the bull by the horns and did some research on Kim's behalf. His search yielded a referral to the Walter Hoving Home, a Christian drug rehabilitation center for women. As soon as an opening was available in late Summer, George arranged for Kim to be enrolled in the program, which emphasizes a vital relationship with God through study of His Word. Since new enrollees are on “lockdown” for the first 30 days, George didn't hear from Kim during that period.

“Then,” George reports, “on the 30th day my cell rang. 'HI!,' a young lady said, and started talking to me as if I knew her. Kim had spent the last 30 days immersed in the Word of God, had accepted the Lord and was walking with Him. Even her voice was different. It was a tremendous testimony to me of the power of the Bible, God’s word.”

On her first pass from the Walter Hoving Home, after having graduated to the third level there, it's interesting to note that her first contact with the outside world was with her “band of brothers” on the Technology Education Vehicle. She decided it was safer there than returning to the “craziness” of her former home. George invited Kim's Tech Vehicle friends, baked a cake, and planned a surprise celebration to encourage Kim in her continued recovery. She was greatly moved by the show of support and was reinforced with the feeling that she's not fighting this battle alone. Kim's plan is to finish out the year-long program at the Home, get a job, and finish her certifications on the Tech Vehicle so that she can qualify for higher paying positions. She is growing in the Lord and healing every day. A true blessing.

A lot of people don't look at a recovering heroin user living in a rehab center and call it a “success,” but when you look at where Kim came from, where she is now, and factor God into the equation, there's no other word for it. Success, in anyone's life, is not always calculated in terms of the spectacular. Real success, in God's eyes, is measured step by step, choice by choice, one day at a time.

Congratulations, Kim. Keep up the good work!