I was a heroin addict for about 15 years. Just completely driven by my compulsion to get and use more drugs. And that’s pretty much what kept me going, living on the street. Even when I was ill most of the time. I first came to the Mission about 6 years ago and probably stayed in the shelter like 3 or 4 times. The Mission’s Search & Rescue Team contacted me several times over a period of a couple years. I was lucky enough to have some nice people help me.
They told me about a program, the New Life Recovery Program. And, for years, I kind of resisted it. I don’t think I really cared whether I lived or died. But, I knew if I was going to keep living, something had to change. It just came to a point where I thought I’d give it a try.
The program gave me hope to try again. You know, it’s really people being able to have an encounter with Jesus that provides that hope. I think I was becoming pretty agnostic or even atheist, you know, thinking there’s no God and that God doesn’t exist. But coming through the program, I just surrendered to the fact that I really didn’t know anything and that I needed help.
I saw a lot of people come into the New Life Program and succeed. I got to know people who have had years of sobriety. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. I’m different now. I volunteer, I’m a productive member of society. I go out on Search & Rescue sometimes and contact other people that might be going through the same type of thing that I was. I have hope again. I’m happy. I wasn’t happy before. I’m happy now. The Mission saved my life.
