I had just gotten out of prison and went to my brother’s house while I got my feet under me.
I found out pretty quickly that his next-door neighbor was a meth head. I knew I had to get away from that environment completely. I told my brother, “Drop me off at the Mission.” He goes, “You sure bro? You don’t have to leave.” But I did have to leave even if it meant being homeless, I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I could end up on meth.
I needed to start somewhere that was good for me, get on my feet, and get my daughter back. She’s 16 and has been in foster care.
I knew that the Mission could give me a starting place. You got everything right here. Your food, your bed, your shower, your things.
I mean, my biggest downfall was alcohol. I have been drinking since I was 13 years old. I grew up in the woods, out in Goldbar. I was riding motorcycles, drinking with my buddies, camping out, and stuff. I can’t pinpoint when I lost control. But I knew it was a disease and I couldn’t quit on my own.
When I came to the Mission I was still drinking. One day I woke up half drunk, looked in the mirror and did not like what I saw.
I had just visited my daughter and I remembered the look she gave me. She had disgust in her eyes. I never wanted to see that again. I heard about the Mission’s recovery program. I went through detox, came straight back here, got into the program, and have been clean and sober ever since. I’d probably be dead if I didn’t change my ways.
I never opened a Bible until I got here. It opened my eyes. Ever since I’ve been praying, talking to God, doing my daily devotions, I’ve had lots of blessings.
I can’t go back to drinking and lose my daughter again. I just can’t do it. I don’t even think I’d survive it. I’m too old.
I’m 50 years old, I can’t take it no more. And my daughter looks up to me big time. That’s the motivation right there.
The program staff helped me get my driver’s license back and figure out my legal stuff. I was able to work on my anger issues. I also still have some surgery’s I need to go through and after that getting back to working full-time. I’ve been in the union ever since I was 17 doing drywall taping. Now, I want to be a drywall inspector.
I want to make sure I stay in my recovery and keep moving forward.
I want to come back to the Mission and help if I can. I ain’t gonna forget this place. I will never forget where I started from.
Everybody deserves a second chance. Everybody makes mistakes, so everybody should get the chance to redo their life and get more out of it. Because without this place, I probably would’ve been lost.
