Vicente is grateful for the friendships he’s made with staff and residents at the Mission. He is using the program to focus on himself and find healthy coping mechanisms.

Vicente started drinking alcohol at age 11 during family celebrations. “There was always a lot of kids around, and they (adults) wouldn’t always be paying attention, so we’d try whatever was around. Then when I was about 12, I started sneaking shots.”

Vicente, a star athlete in high school, said that sports originally kept him “too busy” to party. “That was the one thing that saved me in high school. Sports was my saving grace, it kept me safe for a while.”

That changed during his senior year when he started hanging out with “bad influences” who introduced him to cocaine. Vicente’s girlfriend at the time gave birth to his first child. While he “regulated” his addiction throughout high school, Vicente continued to use meth and drink alcohol after graduating.

Although Vicente had the opportunity to play football in college, he decided to attend a local vocational school so he could help raise his son. Eventually, Vicente married a woman who had a daughter, and the two had one child together. He had steady employment as an auto mechanic for many years before Vicente’s addiction made it impossible to work.

“It (addiction) started affecting everything. I ended up leaving my job. I knew I could no longer do a good job, and I didn’t want to put anyone at risk,” Vicente said.

After going through other programs, a family member told Vicente about the men’s Life Recovery Program. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no openings, and Vicente was instructed to call back in two weeks. When he finally entered the program, Vicente was relieved. “I was at the end of my rope. When I finally got in, I went that day, and I couldn’t believe it. I was pretty stoked,” he said.

While in program, Vicente is taking the time to focus on learning about himself. “The best part is taking the time to find myself again. I’m working on actually trying to find a way to live a life that’s not dominated by my addiction. I want to be able to reidentify with myself and get back some of what I lost.

“Everyone here is understanding. They give each other a lot of grace. I’m grateful for that. Grace for me is a concept that I’m still trying to grasp. I come from a culture where your worth is what you put in. I’m trying to get rid of that and believe more in God’s grace. I’m pretty tough on myself.”

Vicente is grateful for the relationships he’s built with staff and the other residents at the Mission. “I miss my family. I miss the relationship with my kids, and I know I lost that through my addiction. One of the things that helps me is having good camaraderie, good fellowship with the guys here. It feels like family.”

After graduation, Vicente would like to continue to work in mechanics, find a house for him and his disabled dad, and eventually, hopefully reconnect with his children. For now, Vicente encourages others who are struggling to come to the Mission.

“For those broken or on the streets, this is a place that you find comfort, refuge, and definitely love.”