I Want to Be Whole Again

Lakitra was at a gas station when someone told her about One by One, sharing that OBO is a loving community that provides mentors to help moms of newborns and that the mentors will be with moms every step of the way. Lakitra was hesitant but decided to call OBO and check it out.

While Lakitra was waiting to be matched with a mentor, One by One invited her to attend the annual Christmas Mom Blessing Day. Lakitra recalls, “I was greeted with all the love and caring people.” She met Jenni, who served as her escort and guide at the event.

Jenni had heard about One by One through her church and volunteered to help at OBO’s Christmas Blessing Day. Lakitra was the first mom Jenni met. “God just put her on my heart. I knew I wanted to walk alongside Lakitra, so I went to One by One’s website and filled out the application to become a mentor. I had the option to train in-person or online, and they gave me all the tools I could possibly need.”

When OBO matched Lakitra and Jenni, Lakitra was pregnant with her 8th child. Jenni says “She had just become a single mom, was struggling, and didn’t know the Lord. My relationship with her is one of the most special relationships in my life.”

Lakitra loves having Jenni as her mentor. “She’s very caring. She loves us genuinely: there’s nothing fake about our relationship. I thank God for her entering me and my kids’ lives – from the love and support to just being there with us. It makes me and my kids happy.”

Jenni and Lakitra usually meet at Lakitra’s home. Lakitra says, “We read the Bible. We pray. I talk to her about what I’m going through or what I might be struggling with. We work on a baby book – talk about baby health and safety, the do’s and don’ts and lists of what the baby has to have.”

Jenni says One by One’s curriculum makes it easy to mentor a new mom. “The program materials are amazing. There are the first and second year programs which go from pregnancy up to 24 months. There’s the discipleship program. It’s so well done that you can spend your time not worrying about what you’re going to say but instead what your mom needs.”

Lakitra adds, “Right away Jenni started talking to me about the Lord. She gave me a Bible which was so special because it had my name on it.”

Jenni and Lakitra had completed OBO’s Year 1 program and were close to finishing the Year 2 program. Jenni says, “During that time, praise the Lord, Lakitra gave her life to Christ. She prayed a beautiful prayer asking the Lord to be her Savior. It was just amazing, and we decided to move into OBO’s Discipleship program.”

Lakitra says, “I just want to be put back together. I want to be whole again, so I surrendered my life to Christ. I’ve grown in my faith a lot. I’m praying more. We read the Bible together. So far I’m loving it. Jenni has my back. She says God is with me at all times – to never give up and to stay strong.”

Jenni says the Lord has drawn her closer to Him since she has become an OBO mentor. “It’s not me that has saving power or encouraging power or can do anything. It’s all by the name of Jesus. My role is to keep showing up on my knees and to keep showing up for Lakitra, and what a gift that is.”

Lakitra says while she loves waking up each day to see her kids’ little faces, she still has struggles. “I have times where I want to give up with what I’m going through, but my hope continues to grow with Christ. I want my relationship stronger with God. My dream is to go to school and get a degree to become a medical assistant.”

Jenni says you can tell how much Lakitra loves her children. “She’s a wonderful mom. I just love her kids; they’re so healthy and happy. And I get so many hugs when I see them!”
Jenni encourages anyone considering mentoring with OBO to do it. “If you’re on the fence about mentoring, don’t be fearful. First, the Lord says not to be fearful. Second, OBO is such an incredible ministry. You get so much support. And the connection you get with your mom is incredible: you can’t buy it; you can’t ask for any better gift. Just go for it!”

Lakitra says Jenni is like a second mother to her children and it means so much to her to see their relationships. “At first, I was hesitant about getting a mentor, but being able to have somebody support you and love you unconditionally like God does is amazing. If you’re thinking about it, go for it. You won’t regret it.”

Any pregnant or new mom can request a mentor at www.onebyoneformoms.org. Any Christian women interested in becoming a One by One mentor can apply at www.onebyoneusa.org. Questions? Email admin@onebyoneusa.org or call 833.777.1153.