“I was lost but now I’m found.”
“My mother had me – her first child – when she was just a child herself,” Jason says. Although the young single mom did the best she could, Jason’s early years were marred by instability, confusion and exposure to alcoholism among the adults in his life.
The environment set the stage for his own destructive habits, and by age 12 he was smoking, drinking, skipping school and hanging out with the wrong crowd. “I was just looking for attention and acceptance.”
As an adult, his substance abuse escalated and eventually resulted in prison time. When released, he relocated near his mother, hopeful to reestablish their relationship. Sadly, she still battled her addiction. When she took her own life, Jason’s life was shattered. “I felt I was responsible for my mom’s death.”
He carried his guilt with him for years, living a transient and disconnected existence. “Finally I just couldn’t handle it anymore. The downhill spiral I was on, there was no stopping. That’s when I found the Fresno Mission.”
“I believed in God, but after being at the Mission, He slowly started working with me and then He and I had a more intimate relationship.”
In our care, Jason found the acceptance and love he’d been seeking since childhood. Through our faith-based programs, he began to rebuild himself and rediscover his self-worth.
He feels especially blessed by his role as an Academy Steward, where he welcomed new arrivals and witnessed their transformation, much like his own. “It was the most amazing thing,” he says, believing God called him to this important work.
Today, Jason remains at the Mission – employed at our thrift store – where he’s found a sense of family and community.
This Christmas, he is experiencing all the joy this season has to offer – because YOU believed in the power of a fresh start and the promise of God’s unending love. “I once was lost but now I’m found. I’m somebody that matters and I know I’m worthy.”
Leticia’s story appeared in the Holiday edition of Mission Insider.
