Back in first grade, I remember struggling to understand what I was reading. I couldn’t keep up with the other kids, as far as grades and all that. I had a learning disability, so they took me away from all my friends in class and put me into a different class, something they called a “learning lab.” Suddenly I felt different from everyone else. And it hurt.From that point on, I struggled with school — and my self-esteem. Then I discovered alcohol and speed in junior high and fell in love with those things really quick. Alcohol made me feel more confident and speed made me think quicker and clearer.So I dropped out of high school and started working. I cleaned up for awhile in the early ’90s. I got married and started a family. But my in-laws hated me. I was too blue-collar for them. So before long, I went back to drugs and alcohol. And the more I used, the more I watched my family fall apart. But I felt like I couldn’t do anything about it.By 2006, my wife had enough and left me. By that time, my drug and alcohol abuse was out of control. I lost my family, my friends, my job, my home — I ended up homeless and suicidal on the streets downtown.

A New Chapter In My Life

But a couple of years ago, everything changed. I got sober and, despite my reading problems, I started reading the Bible. Then I made it to Springs Rescue Mission. I immediately embraced the program, I embraced Jesus, and I knew for the first time that I was doing what God wanted.

I started taking all kinds of classes, especially Christian classes, and suddenly I found myself learning! And everything I learned went straight to my heart. I started pouring my life into others, really loving them, and the more I gave myself away, the more God gave me back my self-esteem — because of who I am in Christ.I know I’m still a work in progress. But my life is completely changed because of Springs Rescue Mission.