Before Clayton ran away from home, his mother would beat his head against the wall when he did not bring home enough money from selling candy. 

He came to us in 1994, at age 12. Clayton loved the electrical course, and dreamed of becoming an electrical engineer. After graduating from Hope, he enrolled in technical courses at night (after work). He eventually got into a full-fledged engineering night school. Last December, after 10 years of studying while working full time, Clayton finally earned his engineering degree (!)   

Since then, he worked two jobs as an “engineer” but the jobs really involved general warehouse maintenance and mediocre pay – not real engineer stuff, and kind of a disappointment after his decade of sacrifice.  

Meanwhile, Clayton submitted his application all over town. Toyota interviewed him, and then called him back an astonishing 6 times for increasingly in-depth interviews and aptitude testing.  

Last week Clayton got a call from Toyota’s HR department: he got the job!  His starting pay is six thousand a month, plus full benefits! 

That is many times over what a house parent at Hope makes. And, a comfortable company bus will pick him up at his home every day to take him to work.

Clayton’s wife, Derlania, teaches Sunday School at their church. Late last year, she gave birth to their beautiful daughter, Nicole (who screams in terror every time she sees me…maybe it is the prickly beard).  

Clayton already owns his own home, so the income from this job will allow him to provide very comfortably indeed for his family. 

What an incredible return on our investment!