My fiancée and I were renting a house in Santa Ana and just got in over our heads. Things were really hard for us and we were living paycheck-to-paycheck. That spilled over into our relationship and we began having domestic problems. By the time we split up, we had lost the house.

I had been using drugs and was homeless for a while the first time I saw the Chili Van. I had heard about the Rescue Mission through my fiancée’s mom. She was going to the Hurtt Family Health Clinic and told me about all the great things the Mission does to help people.

So I went back to the Civic Center in Santa Ana again, and I saw that the Chili Van volunteers were helping people. They gave me food, and they listened. I spoke with them about my situation. The volunteers ask people the question, “Have you had enough?” And I had. I wanted to get into the Rescue Mission. I had to be there by 8:00 a.m. the next day and was there by 7:45 — I was so excited. I was accepted into the Rescue Mission that morning, at the Village of Hope.

It isn’t easy getting used to being in a program and as soon as I got in I wanted to leave. One of the volunteers from the Chili Van met with me every day to encourage me to stay. And I did for a while. But as soon as I became more stable, I decided I was ready to leave and did not finish the program.

I ended up living in a motel. Before long I wasn’t doing well. One day the Chili Van showed up where I was living at the motels. The volunteers didn’t know I was there. It was like God brought them there right when I needed it. They showed me that they still cared, and I got another chance.

I was accepted again into the Rescue Mission. This time I was transferred to Double R Ranch. The difference this time is I have a plan to change my life, not just to get a place to live.