HENRY
I’m doing way better. My name is Henry. I’m a child of God; I’ve been saved for four years now. And it started off I was struggling and it’s still a daily walk. But the struggle is not as bad as it used to be. I’m realizing it’s a new life. Every day God is just blessing me with a good mind. He has taken away a lot of the old things that I had that I thought was my life. And I gave them up—cigarettes, drugs, adultery and all kind of sin I had in my life and I gave my life to Christ. He just made my life a whole lot better. I just can’t explain it--it’s something spiritual. I can tell there is a change in my work and my spirit. I’m not down. I’m very happy--doing the things of God, going to church, working--I have a job now. When I was on the streets I gave up all hope. A person that has a record like mine, a felony charge, a bad rep, it’s not real bad, but I stayed in a lot of trouble. But I’m not worried about that now. I know God can change things. I’m looking forward to just better days. Every day is a brighter day.

I’ve only been clean for about six months. I was drug addicted for ten years on the streets, and four years ago I rededicated my life to Christ. Until now, it’s been changing every day. The first three years I was up and down. I would be in the church six months and be on the streets for four months, but now I don’t see me going back to drugs. I might be on the streets, but I’ll be in Christ Jesus if I do go on the streets. I feel like it’s not worth my walk in Christ. It’s a whole lot better than what alcohol can do for me or what drugs can do for me.

I’ve been volunteering at Helping Hands now for two years, but I had been coming here in my addiction seeking help, seeking medical help when they were at the Salvation Army. I came and I met Randy and the other volunteers and they helped me out. And now that I’m clean and living a saved life, I’m giving back. I want God to use me in people’s lives. I want them to see that I’ve changed and God can do the same for them that he did for me.