Lives Transformed

Hi, my name is Jhonatan. My life before coming to the Mission was extremely chaotic. As a small child I lived in an orphanage in the Country of Colombia. I was adopted at age 7 and came to live in the US. I dealt with depression and struggled with my identity most of my life, not knowing where I came from. For a long time, I didn’t know who I was or where I belonged.

As a teenager, I became a follower. I made choices to do what others were doing to fit in, even when I knew it was wrong. My depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder were a daily struggle. Mixing drugs with those struggles, only made things worse. Every day was a roller coaster. It was difficult to keep a job, maintain housing, and keep my life together. I would have periods when things were going well, followed by periods when I would lose everything and have to start over.

After COVID, my employer closed down. I lost my job, then my car, my housing, and eventually, everything. I was homeless.

I had reached a point where I felt like I was running out of chances and opportunities. People had started drifting away from me, and I knew that if I didn’t get my life together now, that it might never happen. That was how I ended up at Capital City Rescue Mission.

When I arrived, I realized things I had heard were wrong. I was loved there. Staff and volunteers made sure I was settled in and understood how things worked. Even the other guests helped me learn the routines. The Christian atmosphere was different from anything I had experienced. I had always believed in God, but I had never really read the Bible. What stood out to me at the Mission was that nothing felt forced. I was given the choice to participate, but whether I did or not, people still cared about me and wanted to help me.

I started attending chapel. I heard people speak about Jesus Christ, God, and the Bible. My heart opened to Christianity, faith, and Christ. After a couple of weeks, I joined the New Life Program. There, I was able to go deeper into the Bible, learn from pastors and study Scripture. I needed that. I believe it changed my whole life.

I learned what God says about who I am, and I began to see myself differently. I learned about the way I was created and my place in this world. Before coming to the Rescue Mission, I was depressed, angry, sad, and lonely. Now, I am joyful. Every day I wake up excited about what God has in store for me.

I am employed now, and I have learned how to use the resources available here to prepare for success. I am thankful to the Mission for giving me another opportunity at life and for helping me have my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in my life. Now, instead of dreading the past, I am looking forward to the future. Thank you for giving me a second chance!