You could say that the legacy of addiction was handed down to Mingo before he was even a teenager.
“When I was 12, my auntie introduced me to crank,” he says.
Two years later, he moved out on his own and joined a gang here in Tacoma/ Pierce County. He’s tried practically every drug out there, including one called Wet, which is a nasty combination of formaldehyde, horse tranquilizer and ether.
Mingo even dealt drugs, keeping his own addiction fueled, however, he needed to.
But that all changed when he entered the New Life Program here at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
“I didn’t realize everything that was holding me back,” Mingo says.
The unique classes and support Mingo is receiving is allowing him to get to the root of his addiction so that he can leave it behind once and for all.
Plus, the nourishing meals, safe shelter, job-skills training and Christ-centered support he’s getting is allowing him to build a firm foundation and create a new legacy for his family.
“I’m not giving up on my family. Of all things, I’m not giving up on God,” he says.