Featured Story
Jesse
A Rough Start
While still a young child, Jesse assumed the role and responsibilities of a parent. Left on their own much of the time, it was up to him to care for himself and his brother, a year and a half younger, making sure they were fed, bathed and attending school. “My mom was addicted to meth since I was born and she wasn’t ready to give up the party life …. She was there, kind of”. She was there until one day, when he was just 8 years old, she was gone. They had taken their bikes after school to stay overnight with their grandparents like they had done many times before. This time though, when they arrived home the next day they found the house vacant. Jesse’s mother and boyfriend, along with the younger children, had moved while they were away.
A Brief Reprieve
In a state of desperation and bewilderment they went back to their grandparents who “really had no choice but to take us in. It was great. Who wouldn’t want to live with their grandparents?” For a few years the boys had a trouble-free existence. They had someone to care for them, nurture them and love them. “They were awesome grandparents.” It was a short-lived reprieve that ended when once again tragedy struck. The brothers awakened early Christmas morning to learn their grandfather had passed away. Their grandmother followed just 4 years later. The boys had become so numb and resigned to the heartaches that characterized their young lives that they didn’t know how to grieve. “She was the last real relative we had that loved us, at all.”
From Bad to Worse
At 15 years old, Jesse was now on his own, living with friends and ‘couch surfing’ all the while continuing to look out for his younger brother. They managed to stay in school. School was fun – a social experience rather than an educational one. With no one to impress or even show a report card to, the grades didn’t matter. Jesse eventually dropped out of High School when he learned he would not graduate with his class. He intended to get his GED, but as time went on that became less of a priority.
Upon turning 18, each brother received a large sum of money as an inheritance from their grandparents. “We had never had any direction and we didn’t know what to do with it. So we bought trucks and went shopping and bought clothes. We were looking for direction in life and were bored. We were pretty lost and that’s when we turned to drugs because that’s what our family did, it’s all we knew.” When their inheritance ran out they found work, but by that time the drug life had fully taken over and any income went to fuel the addiction.
Restored Hope…
After several stretches in jail, Jesse found himself at Union Gospel Mission. After having suffered so much at such a young age he had given up believing that there was a God who loved him. “I always knew there was a God but after my grandparents died, I started to think there couldn’t be because of the hellacious life I had. It wouldn’t be fair. If there was a God he wouldn’t do this to me.”
One day, as things seemed to be spiraling out of control, Jesse sat alone at Riverfront Park and cried out to God. “I had nothing else to try. I said to God, ‘I have nothing else. I am going to try to follow you and see what happens.’ Things have definitely happened since then. ”
It has not been an easy road for Jesse. He has had his ups and downs, even leaving the program to try it on his own terms for a short time. Once he made the decision to return, he was surprised at how God paved his path home. “Things don’t happen like that unless God is in it.”
Since his return he is taking a different approach. “Before it was pretty overwhelming, I was just going through the motions and trying to make it look good and not really getting anything out of it. Now I see that once you really take advantage of [the NLF Program] and all it has to offer and truly try to seek God and what he wants for you, it opens up a whole world of opportunities.”
A Restored Life…
As a participant in the New Life Fellowship Program, Jesse has taken advantage of the opportunity to turn his life around. Along with several others, he is enrolled in the GED preparation classes offered through our Learning Center. “I know it will put me further ahead in life because now so many [employers] are checking. There are so many other people who are qualified. If you don’t have it, they won’t even waste their time looking at your application. I feel a lot more confident getting my GED. I think before I didn’t care enough about myself to want to get it. Now I want to do it more for myself than for employers.”
Still a young man, at 25 years old, Jesse now looks toward a bright future. Just a test or two away from his GED, Jesse is planning for college, pursuing a degree in Addiction Counseling. “I never thought that would be attainable.” Jesse also expresses a desire to become a worship pastor. “I love to sing, and doing something you love….that would be awesome!”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah29:11 (NIV)
*Jesse’s brother, who has also struggled with addiction, has recently entered substance abuse treatment and looks to his older brother as an encouragement in his recovery. They stay in contact through Facebook.
