Ray & Shanna Choate

Riverton, Wyoming

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As I stepped through the door of Rianna's little apartment, she beamed. We hugged and cried together as she gave me a tour of her new space. "13 years", she said. "13 years since I've had my own apartment. I never want to go back to those streets. I can't go back, Shanna."

This isn't the first time I've written about my beautiful friend. In January, I told of the murder of a teenager named Larry. Rianna is Larry's mom...

...Last summer, many times, my friend, Mirjam, and I sat with her during the lowest of lows on the streets. One week, she'd be ready to stop drinking and get her life together, and the next, she'd roll her eyes when she saw me approaching her in the park, masking her shame with annoyance and a hard shell.
For nearly 3 years, this has been our relationship. She was serving jail time when Larry was killed, and released early due to those circumstances. She was determined to stay sober, and succeeded. For us and the friends we serve with, that meant being on call. When displaced from family homes, she'd call to be picked up from motels when people started drinking. When things got hard, we'd have long, encouraging conversations on the phone, and we still do regularly. I took in the scene around me in awe of her courage and God's goodness. Together with friends and people in our community, we filled her apartment with furniture, dishes, towels and bedding for her and her daughter. And then, 2 weeks ago the most amazing thing happened...she prayed for forgiveness with my friend, Mirjam, and acknowledged Jesus as her Savior. The Lord is truly doing such beautiful things in her life, and it is so amazing to watch. Addiction is a hard battle, and we don't often get to see someone make it to this point in the battle.Please, keep our dear friend, Rianna, in your prayers as she continues to face unimaginable trials that just don't seem to end. She is truly fighting a life or death battle, and we know that Jesus is the One who brings life and makes all things new.

"So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:7-10

Much Love,
The Choates

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One year ago, we were able to get a food trailer to use as a mobile Soup Kitchen. This year, BOTH of our towing have given out. We need to fundraise for a truck to tow the food trailer to Riverton, WY and the surrounding area for our outreach. You can be a part of this project by praying for us and visiting

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