Seeing the love in Brendon’s eyes as he recalls how his mother and grandmother raised him, you know that he had an amazing childhood. “With no dad around, my mom and grandma did so much for me. They cooked and cleaned and kept us happy. They did so much, they did everything. I am so grateful.” Brendon remarked, “My favorite memory is BBQ’s at the beach with the family. My brothers and I were pretty crazy. I miss being a kid with no worries.” The example of two extraordinary ladies set Brendon up for success. “High School was good, I wasn’t the best student, but I worked a lot.” After graduating high school, Brendon was doing well, “I had my own place, a vehicle, everything was going good, but what I know now is that I was doing it in my own strength.” Unfortunately, a family tragedy would change Brendon’s world.

In 2012, Brendon’s brother passed away unexpectedly. “A couple of years after he passed away I lost it, I started taking pills, pills turned to hard drugs, and everything kept getting worse. I found myself in jail and was court ordered to come to the rescue mission. To be honest, I was not planning on staying. I just thought I’d get out and take off and do my own thing, go my own path. Then I arrived at the mission and it was nothing like I was expecting, it was so welcoming, it was like home. Everyone was so nice, how can you turn your back on that? There is just so much love here! It’s not in me to turn my back on that. I love it here. Ending up here was a blessing in disguise.

“Coming to the mission and finding God has changed my life so much. I had done things in my own strength for so long. I really thought I had it, that I could live life without God. I learned as soon as I got into drugs that I couldn’t. Now I’m excited. If I was able to do what
I did in my own strength, I can’t wait to see what I can do with God on my side! Right now I am learning to trust God with my future. I’m going to live in the moment and continue to put the past behind me. I am giving it up to God to put me on His path. I am so thankful for the individuals who support this amazing program, it has changed my life in a few short months. Thank you for doing God’s work and sharing God’s love with me! I really do like it here a lot, I don’t have to worry about anything and I get to help others too!”

Brendon was recently baptized at Cornerstone Church in Santa Maria. We are blessed to be part of his story and humbled by the individuals who support us in “Changing Lives for Good!”