“I am brand new”
Before I was introduced to drugs in the 80’s, I was a very productive person in society. After losing my job and not being able to find another one, I slipped into depression and felt bad for myself because I watched my world start to change. As soon as I started to use, my life began to spiral out of control. I quickly entered a rehab program, got through it, and returned to my hometown, Detroit, Michigan. While there, my mother put me in another rehabilitation program that I got through, and then my mother passed. I hit complete rock bottom at that point, I lost custody of my son, became homeless, and decided to come back to Jacksonville in 1990. I wasn’t looking for any help, I had little to no understanding about my relationship with God because I was brought up being a part of so many different religions. I was confused.
I entered City Rescue Mission in 2006, after simply walking past a mirror and not recognizing myself and being devastated at who I had become. I immediately entered the LifeBuilders program and was able to begin my in-depth relationship with God. I knew as soon as I came into the program, I could not go back to the life I once lived. I started attending church and receiving the tools I needed to really understand God and His character. That changed everything for me. I was able to regain trust and love from my family and my life began to fall back into place bit by bit.
City Rescue Mission prepared me to go back out into the world. The counseling sessions helped me get back in touch with my emotions, understand the roots of my issues and several classes showed me healthy solutions to things I may come across or must deal with. My dedication to becoming a better version of myself provided an opportunity to work full time in the Women’s Emergency services at the Mission. This was a testimony to what God was doing in my life.
There are many people struggling with addiction that do not want to do it anymore. They are victims of circumstances. City Rescue Mission takes these people and shows them that there are people that care for them and want the best for them, not only physically and mentally but spiritually. This is why it is so important to support the mission. Before coming to CRM I was truly messed up. Since coming to the mission, I am brand new. For my son to tell me that I am now a great inspiration to him does my heart good. I, along with many others, have transformed our lives here. Thank you City Rescue Mission for Everything.
