STEVEN

Hi, my name is Steven, though everyone calls me Turtle. I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission due to homelessness; my cousin kicked me out, and I had no place to go. I was living under a bridge. In the past, I struggled with pills and alcohol, battling those addictions for years. I am disabled and will be undergoing two spine surgeries. I currently receive disability benefits.

The mission and the Life Recovery Program have been amazing. They restored my faith in God. I lost my baby a long time ago, and my struggles began when I was born. I was left at the hospital after my birth, and my grandparents picked me up and gained custody of me. They cared for me for ten years. When I was ten, I found my grandmother, who I called Mom, in her bed where she had passed away.

Battled with anger issues throughout my teenage years, and an abuse of pills and alcohol. I struggled with that until I was 29, but I have been sober ever since. What I didn’t have before was my faith in God. Now, since being in the Life Recovery Program, I have regained my faith and the tools I need to follow God’s word. I understand that I was never alone; God was always with me. Looking back, I can see how God had His hand in my life.

Now knowing that God brought me to the mission for a reason. I work in the Agape Shop, where I have the opportunity to help people in need. I interact with the public as well as everyone on the premises, and I love what I do. I’ve been in the coffee shop since July, and even though it comes with its struggles and stress, I now know that God has me.

I want to thank not just the Downtown Rescue Mission but also the staff members who have supported me along the way. I am grateful to the teachers who have helped me regain my footing, not just in life but also in society. I give God all the glory for bringing me here.