Michael’s Story

I had a good upbringing growing up on a ranch in Turlock, CA. I grew up with my parents and two older brothers. When I was 18 my parents got divorced and when I was 21 we moved to Visalia. I had a great job, I was making good money, I had good things, but my heart wasn’t in the right place. I always knew the Lord, but I never really had Him in my heart.

I found myself in a dark spot, when things changed with my housing situation. My heart wasn’t focused on Christ, it was focused on the things of this world, and I believe that’s when things went bad. I lost my house and ended up at the river, sleeping in my truck.

I was introduced to drugs and I started using heavily. I didn’t care about anyone or anything, I just cared about myself. I was out there for a year when one morning, as I was getting ready to do drugs once again, I felt the Holy Spirit tell me I needed to go to the Visalia Rescue Mission. It had to be the Lord because those weren’t my plans at all.

So, I went into the safe room, detoxed in there, and went into the Life Change Academy program. I am currently in my third quarter of the Life Change Academy and I can say it’s one of the best programs I’ve ever been in. I came into the program with a stiff neck and hardened heart, but through the teachings in the classes and the ministry here, my heart has been softened and my neck has been loosed.

I remember walking around the Community Center one day and I came across someone who’d done me wrong in the past. Instead of holding onto that grudge in my heart I walked up to them and said I forgave them and they started crying. I told them Jesus loved them and was able to pray with them. Later on that day, in class, they began talking about forgiveness and I broke down and began to cry. I felt the Holy Spirit and the tears just kept coming; He was washing me clean. I’ve never been able to do that and to do so with joy and a smile on my face, it’s just a wonderful feeling.

Where I once held people at a distance, I now am able to stop and talk to people. I can reach out and say, “how are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you? Can I pray with you?” I used to be embarrassed about my addiction, ashamed of myself and what people might think, but today I can walk around and say that because of Jesus I have been set free and my heart is filled with joy, love, and hope. He took the gray out of my eyes and made me see color.

Having a relationship with God is 100% the difference in succeeding in recovery. I’ve tried it on my own, out at the river, and I would always fall back into it. I would never be where I am today, with clean clothes on my back, if I had not received the Holy Spirit, and I don’t think I would have received the Holy Spirit I hadn’t come to the Visalia Rescue Mission.