The Secret Garden

By Cynthia Stamatis

“A Secret Garden.” That is what Carmen Hall, executive director of Pacific Lifeline, calls the shelter. “God calls each of us to His garden, a place of being irresponsibly responsible, [a place] where God’s the gardener.”

I arrived at Pacific Lifeline in the early afternoon. As I approached the campus, I watched as two women dropped off donations, filling a storage bin which sits on the curb.

I entered the unlocked gates and was greeted with a sitting bench adorned with a little wooden birdhouse dangling near a shade tree. In my wandering of the premises, I would notice other little touches—flowers, lounge furniture, a playground, artwork, and children’s toys—around every corner. Things that spell “home.” Later, Carmen would inform me that she and the staff are very intentional about creating images of home to teach the residents what home looks like.

Most of these women, Carmen notes, had missing links in their childhoods. Their parents may have been in prison or they may have practically raised themselves and their siblings. Some have never had something as simple as a birthday party. And without ever having the experience of being shown love with a birthday cake and candles, how can they give such a thing to their own children?

So Pacific Lifeline helps provide those links by creating those experiences. “We intercede on behalf of those who don’t know how,” Carmen says. “What an incredible honor we have been given to minister in His name.”

Carmen describes the first 30 days for women at PLL as a honeymoon. It’s quiet and peaceful. There is no stress or noise to distract. By the time a resident has reached 60 days, she will have gotten a job and is required to work. This is a place where there are freedoms and responsibilities to oneself and to others.

I returned to PLL the next evening and when I arrived, mothers and children were assembling for an evening of family fun. Easter was just a couple of days away, so an Easter party—complete with cupcakes, egg hunts, and gifts—was being held. Everyone gathered downstairs, coloring and decorating Easter bags, while upstairs, volunteers were busy hiding eggs for the big event. There were plenty of giggles and exchanging of hugs before the evening was over. As things quieted down, the little ones slipped into their jammies, while moms shared time in the kitchen together, preparing lunches for the morning. Soon, they were each heading off to their individual rooms for the night. In the halls, the children played or visited one another’s room. And as in any family environment, the peace was sometimes broken by the cries of a child. One young boy, tired and worn out from all the fun of the evening, had a small “break down.” The boy’s mother, without anger, patiently waited for her child to obey, which happened quickly and the halls again were peaceful.

Pacific Lifeline has wonderful staff members who works to oversee that the mission there is accomplished. With the help of many volunteers from the community and churches, Pacific Lifeline provides a warm environment of fresh paint and flowers, education and love. But it is also refreshing to note that in the midst of the new things, there are also broken things. And in the midst of the completed work, there is still more yet to be done.

Carmen and the rest of the PLL staff know that it is the Gardner’s choice what to plant in which season. The Gardner knows what His garden is going to look like when it’s completed. “It is our good pleasure to play and work in the garden,” says Carmen.