Stories

When Saul was 13, his family moved from Bakersfield to San Diego. “I had a rough life growing up,” Saul said. “My dad used to beat me up a lot.

Tommy grew up on an Indian reservation in San Diego County, where he said many began drinking at a young age. “I started when I was 9,” he said. “By

David, a college graduate, was married with two kids when the store he was managing—a Mervyn’s in the Central Valley—went bankrupt. “I had a lot of time on my hands

Daniel’s father was in the Navy, and their family moved around often, spending time in San Diego, Seattle, and Iceland. He had two loving parents and an older brother and

Chris had a rough childhood, and sees more clearly now how the trauma has affected the trajectory of his life. “I went through a lot,” he said. “I was molested

When we last spoke to Andrew in early 2018, he was new to the mission’s life recovery program and was working to let God lead him in his journey. “I

His parents’ contentious divorce—and the difficult aftermath—shaped much of Cecil’s life. He was young when they split, and he and his siblings were first placed with their mother. “That wasn’t

Albert grew up locally with two brothers, his mom, and his dad, the latter of whom was very strict. “My dad was always really tough, so even though I knew

Fernando doesn’t have much family left, nor does he have many important personal relationships in his life. But when he talks about his dog, Fernando’s eyes light up. Kiko, a

Mike Ruiz, the program assistant at the mission for nearly a year, still seems in awe of where he’s ended up. “I never would’ve imagined this. If you would’ve told