Daniel invested 30 years of his life in alcohol consumption. In the process he lost a career job and everyone close to him – including his whole family.
His son also struggles with addiction and, at one point in 2011, Daniel even called Helping Up Mission and talked about his son.
But a month later, after another one of his own binges, Daniel finally admitted he needed help and called HUM again – this time for himself.
Arriving in June 2011, Daniel was 50 years old and feeling pretty helpless and hopeless. He planned to leave almost every Friday after our afternoon chapel service, but he couldn’t think of any good place to go – so he stayed.
It took about 3 months for Daniel to finally get comfortable. He began applying himself to his class work and got some self-esteem back from his work therapy responsibilities.
At the point where most guys go to work, Daniel decided he wanted to go to college. He procured a grant and, for the first time in his life, began college – to be a Certified Nursing Assistant.
In June 2012, Daniel graduated from HUM and continued living on campus while going to college. A year later he moved off campus, closer to school and family – now back in his life.
Daniel earned his CNA, also receiving a letter that he was on the dean’s list. Then another letter said he had earned Phi Beta Kappa status. I never got either of those letters in college!
Daniel also did an internship at one of the local hospitals. He completed that while also receiving another certification.
This week Daniel began his new fulltime job there! Working the night shift, he stopped by here on the way home. Spiritual recovery is awesome!
One Day at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director