Roy

Hi, I’m Roy. I wouldn’t be here today without the Mission. I’m living a sober life and being a good son to my parents. But for a long time, I was just a bad drunk.

At about 13 years old, I started smoking marijuana, then lost control and took to drinking. I put my mom and dad through a lot of hurt and pain, going from a good kid to a bad kid. On my 16th birthday, I got thrown out of school.

I met an alcoholic and drug addict who introduced me to cocaine. She had lots of money and supported me for a few years. We had a son together, but she wouldn’t stop using drugs and alcohol. I left her and got my son into the care of my parents. While they raised my child, I got into a lot of trouble. To feed the alcohol and drug addiction, I turned to crime, which cycled me through the justice system for a decade or more. I spent a lot of my childhood in jail.

One day, out of the blue, I told my son I would change. I found the Boston Rescue Mission, got baptized, and God returned to my life. The Mission showed me how to be a man—working, staying clean, and I was sober for several years after that.

Then several years ago, two things happened. My son was killed by a train, and I went to jail for a short time on a probation violation. Severe depression led to relapse, and many difficult years of addiction followed. I had lost God in my life.

This time it was much harder to get sober. But I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. After a few overdoses and suicidal thoughts, I found the Mission again. I knew I needed God with me to live a clean, sober life, and I’ve been to church faithfully for these last eight months. I have a sponsor, a therapist, and my parents back in my life. I feel 100% better today, and it’s thanks in large part to people who support the Mission. Thank you. I wouldn’t be here today without you.