Elisson's Journey of Transformation

When Elisson first arrived at Mission Lazarus, no one could have imagined the man he would become. His family had very little material resources, but what they lacked in wealth, they made up for with determination and a quiet hope that life could be different.

As a young boy, Elisson often felt the sting of being overlooked. Opportunities seemed reserved for others, and the cycle of poverty weighed heavily on his family. Still, deep within, he carried a hunger for something more—a hunger not only for education but also for dignity.

That hunger brought him to Mission Lazarus. Elisson enrolled in the Lazarus Academy in seventh grade and chose leatherworking as his vocational class. The first time he stepped into the leather workshop, he was captivated. “At first, I didn’t know anything about working with leather,” Elisson remembers, “but little by little I learned. Now, when I see something finished that I made, I feel proud.”

By ninth grade, Elisson had graduated from the program, and instead of drifting away in search of uncertain work, he accepted a full-time role in the Lazarus Artisan Goods leather shop. He wasn’t just making boots and belts—he was carving out a future, one that provided for himself and inspired his younger siblings.

But Elisson didn’t stop there. After finishing ninth grade, he took advantage of the Mission Lazarus Adult Education Program, which allowed him to work full-time while also attending high school on the weekends. “It was difficult to work all week and then study on weekends,” he admits, “but I wanted to keep going. I wanted my diploma.” And in December of 2024, Elisson graduated with his high school diploma.

Today, Elisson continues to shape leather with the same steady hands that once trembled with uncertainty. He is one of the best employees in the workshop, a mentor to those just beginning, and a living testimony that dignity is not given—it is cultivated.

Elisson’s story is more than personal success. It is a reminder that when opportunities meet determination, transformation happens. And through Mission Lazarus, this transformation doesn’t just change one life—it ripples outward, touching families, communities, and generations to come.