Rogelio feels “at home” with the staff and residents at the Mission. He is learning to listen to God and apply His teachings to his life, thoughts, and actions.

He is happy to change his ways and embark on a new life

“Ten years is a long time,” Rogelio recalled, releasing a long breath. “For the last crime I did, they wanted to send me away to prison for a long time. Ten years. The longest I had been in prison before is 35 months.”

In 2004, after graduating high school, Rogelio joined the Marine Corps. The focus of Rogelio’s bootcamp was training for deployment to the Iraq war. Rogelio spent three years in the military, traveling to different locations to complete various training and missions.

Things took a turn though when Rogelio returned from deployment. The men he spent time in his battalion with became men that he started to party with. And although Rogelio had only ever smoked marijuana in his youth before, he tried cocaine. As his addiction grew, Rogelio started using on his own. He received a “bad conduct discharge” from the military.

“When I was discharged, that’s when I lost all hope in life,” he said. “I tried to get a job here and there, but I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was more trying to drown out the pain drinking and doing drugs.

“I liked being in the military. I fell into a deep depression. I couldn’t hold a job longer than 6 months.”

After the military, Rogelio cycled through drugs, jail, and homelessness. “Being in jail was like a revolving door for crimes, mostly theft, robbery, and burglary – stuff to survive,” Rogelio shared.

It was the final burglary charge where Rogelio was almost sentenced to 10 years in prison. Fortunately, Rogelio was presented with another option.

“They offered me a rehabilitation program. When you’re in prison, you learn more bad things in order to make money. There’s not a lot of good people in there telling you to go to church or go to a program. I took my chance.

“I remember I got on my knees and began speaking to (God). I was tired. I’m getting older, getting gray hairs, my knees hurt, I can’t live this lifestyle anymore. I want to do what Jesus does. I want to change my life. I want to be a good person for a change.”

In July, Rogelio entered the Life Recovery Program. “It was a new beginning. I had never felt so much peace and love and kindness from everyone around me. I’m not used to being surrounded by good people.

“At first, I felt like an outcast, like I didn’t belong. You feel like it’s a Godly place. There are no bad vibes from nobody, staff or the other guys. It took me about a month for it to finally feel like home, to feel comfortable.”

After four months in the program, Rogelio acknowledges he’s better about not letting negative emotions take him captive. “I’m learning to apply God’s teachings and control my actions and thoughts better. I haven’t really struggled with depression while I’ve been here.”

After graduation, Rogelio is hoping to reconnect with his family, who he hasn’t seen in four years. He’s looking into completing HVAC certification and gaining steady employment.

As for advice to others struggling, Rogelio keeps it simple: “The Mission is the place to be.”