They Need a Village—Help Us Help Them

Hi friends,

Over the past few months, our family has found ourselves crossing paths—again and again—with people walking through unthinkable pain. We don’t think this is coincidence. We believe it’s the call of Isaiah 1:17: “Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.”

Right now, we're actively helping two families escape unsafe, traumatic situations—and the need is far greater than what we can carry alone. That’s why we’re reaching out to our community: to ask if you’ll be a bright spot in someone’s dark chapter.

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Family #1: A Brave Mama and Her Son Starting Over

One of the families we’re walking alongside is an immigrant mother and her 18-year-old son. After losing her husband to cancer, then her mother and aunt within months afterwards, this mom left her home country hoping to build a new life in Minnesota. She met a man online, fell in love, and moved here with her son—only to find herself in an incredibly dangerous and controlling situation.

She’s educated, resourceful, and resilient—she studied Chemistry in college, worked for her government back home, and despite everything, managed to squirrel away what little she could. Even with her limited English, she found a local non-profit through which she has an uh-mazing attorney helping her pro bono. That's the first step of her exit plan.

Our goal is to raise $8,000 to help this mother and son return to their home country in early August, just in time to celebrate her sister’s birthday—after fearing she might not ever make it home again.

Here’s what your support will cover:

When we spent the day with her and her son a few weeks ago, our family came home and wept - Tom included. It felt like they were trapped with no way out. But now, there is a path—and with all of our help, she can walk it.

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Family #2: Welcoming “Rose” Into Our Home

Separately, but connected by the theme of walking with people in hard places, we recently welcomed a teenage girl (we’ll call her *Rose*) into our home through a kinship caregiving arrangement—a type of foster care outside the county system because of our prior relationship with her family.

We’re i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.y. grateful Rose is with us. But since we’re doing this outside the county system, this is a self-funded effort. We want to bond in a healthy way with her while keeping our own family strong and supported too.

Here’s how we’d use funds for Rose:

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Why We’re Asking for Help

Our family will continue to give—of our time, talents, and treasure—because we believe in showing up for the hurting and the vulnerable. But these needs are significant, and we want the strength that comes from a wider circle of support.

There’s so much darkness in the world right now. We believe many of our friends and family (and beyond) want to be a bright spot - who are looking for a tangible way to bring hope to real people in hard places.

This is that opportunity. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by injustice, let's just push back against it.

Please join with us to helpl two families move from crisis to stability, from fear to peace. For being the Good Samaritan to a suffering neighbor lying alone in the road.

With love and deep gratitude,

The Rocha Phelpses: Carrie, Tom, Olivia & Victoria