Meet Melissa
I started using when I was only 13 years old. I have always had an addictive personality. I started with drinking and using marijuana, I was even drinking vodka at school. When I was 14 years old, I got pregnant. Giving my son up for adoption was the hardest decision I have ever made. Even though it was an open adoption, I even picked his parents, I just couldn’t forgive myself. It was a really hard time for me. I had to go to a different high school because in the 80’s, pregnant teens were kicked out of school. I was hanging out with older kids and the drugs just came so easily. When I turned 17 years old, I knew I needed to make a change.
My family moved from Sacramento to Lemoore in 1990. The move just changed me. I got new friends, and it was like those teenage years were behind me, they were gone and I was growing up. I met my ex-husband in high school. We got married in 1992. He was a good guy and he didn’t do drugs. He worked in corrections, so I was able to be a stay at home mom and raise our kids. It was a blessing. But in 2008 we got divorced.
After my divorce, I began dating a guy that was terrible. He was very abusive and I went back to my addictive ways. We were using meth. I had a lot of trouble with the law because of my addiction. I was squatting in unoccupied homes, I would steal from stores, I was such an ugly person. During this time, my father passed away. Growing up we were very close. Our relationship was strained when I had become pregnant at 14 years old, but he would still do anything for me, but we were distant. When he died, I lost my mind, I literally went crazy. I didn’t want to live anymore. I had got in trouble for fraud and I had gone to jail. I was bailed out and failed to attend my court date. I was running from the cops for 6 months. On my daughter’s 18th birthday, three police officers broke down my door with their guns drawn and arrested me. There was a helicopter in the air outside. That was the best thing that could have happened to me. I believe God sent in his angels and saved me, it was that simple.
While I was in jail, I started to really read the bible for the first time. I was on fire for the Lord. I followed him constantly and even when I got out of jail, I would volunteer at my church. I was sober from 2016 to January 2019. I had stopped going to meetings, stopped attending church, I even stopped volunteering which I had loved doing, but I was isolating myself. I ran into my ex and I started using again, I quickly lost everything. I knew the whole time God was trying to pull me back, but I ignored him. January I started using, by March I was homeless again. I was staying with the ex, I am grown, I knew what I was doing but I was walking with the devil. On August 7, 2019, I remember sitting on his bed, he had just beaten me very badly and I was crying. I looked up and said, “Lord, I need to do something, I’m going to die”, I knew I was going to die. When he took a shower, I got on my phone and found Visalia Rescue Mission. I applied online, and the next day, Ms. Annette called me.
On August 9, 2019, I arrived at the office of the House of Hope. I met with Ms. Annette. I told her, I’m going to tie myself to that tree out there because I’m not leaving. Ms. Annette told me she wasn’t going to let me go. I’ve been here since that day. Being here is a beautiful gift from God. God has given me love, acceptance, and forgiveness. He takes all the darkness away; I don’t walk with shame and guilt anymore. I have never believed like I do now. I praise and worship the Lord every day. I will never stop. Honestly, if I had not come to the Visalia Rescue Mission, I would be dead.
I really wish more people knew about this place. At the House of Hope, it is the best feeling of love and acceptance. I never felt a unity like this before. Ms. Annette literally saved my life that day, and she says she didn’t do anything, but she did. I love her and Ms. Nova so much. I am very thankful for Al and Dave, and all the staff here at the mission. My 21-year-old daughter came to see me the other day, and she said, “Mom, I am so proud of you.” Watching the staff here makes me want to give back, I want to do everything I can to help others in the future.