I like the person I am becoming—someone my mother can be proud of.
As the youngest of three children, Jose always felt like he was living in the shadow of his brother. No matter what Jose did, it was never good enough for his parents. He grew tired of always feeling like a failure and started to act rebellious.
He ran away from home when he was a young teen. “I started hanging out with bad company—people much older than me. It made me grow up really fast, and I was still a kid,” Jose says.
Jose was introduced to alcohol, then got involved in illegal activities to make money. He learned how to provide for himself, but deep inside, he was filled with anger and regret over the life he was living. “My friends who I went to school with were progressing with their lives and doing big, positive things for their future that I could have done too. I regretted not finishing school.”
Then, when he was 33 years old, Jose’s life changed when he found himself stranded and experiencing homelessness. “At that point, I felt like I hit rock bottom,” Jose says.
“It taught me patience and that I’m nothing without the Lord.”
Fortunately, a friend told him about Wheeler Mission. Even though he didn’t want to admit he needed help, he had no other choice. Jose joined our Hebron Addiction Recovery and Discipleship Program, and started learning valuable life skills and growing in his faith.
For most of his life, Jose had felt alone in his struggles. But in our program, he met people who he could relate to—and he realized he wasn’t alone. “I’ve learned that everyone here has a story, and some of those stories are similar to mine. I feel joy here.”
Eventually, Jose became a Servant Leader in Training. His goal was to share his experience with others and let them know that if Wheeler Mission could change him, it could change them, too. “I don’t put myself first anymore. It used to be all about me. But I’ve been rebuilt,” he says. “Wheeler Mission took me out of a very dark place. Now, I can see where I’m walking. My path isn’t surrounded by darkness anymore.”
Today, Jose is back in school earning his GED and is excited about his future. He is grateful for YOU and your incredible generosity. Your prayers and support have helped change his life. “Wheeler Mission is preparing me mentally to face reality and be able to stand my ground against anything negative that comes at me. It’s giving me strength to do things that I didn’t think were possible. I like the person I am becoming—someone my mother can be proud of. I want to be an achievement, not a disappointment.”
