My whole life changed direction that night. I began to search for the truth.
My plan was to check out. We finally had a weekend without our son, Troy. My wife was driving the back road to pick him up from our auntie’s, and I was working construction metal framing in San Francisco. A bizarre car wreck happened, the only oak tree for 100 yards in either direction, and she hit it head on. She passed away from massive head trauma that night. I found my first breaking point as I spiraled into the whiskey bottle, and a friend of the family slid some speed into my pocket. Drugs and alcohol were what I lived on. Fourteen years later, I’m in a prison cell and I get a call. My son is the designated driver. His car hits an oak tree and is ripped in half. My son and his girlfriend die instantly. That night, I gathered enough heroin to do the job. Then, a piece of mail slid under my door. I was staring at the floor, ready to go, but I felt a divine presence telling me to read the letter. It was from Shaun Petteti, who used to bring my son to visit me. He spoke very frankly about the resurrection and that Troy would be there. Then he said, “Will you be there when he awakens?” My whole life changed direction that night. I began to search for the truth. My best friend, Johnny Gillespy, saw what I was doing and joined in. He even left his ex gang buddies. We both got baptized, and he is still going strong at Corcoran Prison, eighteen years later. I still have the letter to this day. Shortly thereafter, I joined a mentor program helping the developmentally challenged. It made me feel complete. And yes, I am still glad to this day that He had His own plans for me.
I BELIEVE
I went from not knowing how to write correctly. I didn’t even know how to turn on a laptop, and I was terrified at the thought of enrolling in college.
My first class was Chemical Dependency, and it was online, so it was really two courses in one. My anxiety needed constant maintenance.
In class, I would fall behind quickly, but I didn’t run to get high, and I did not quit.
I passed the course with an A. Now, I get to teach my sister over the phone how to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. I am also an A student in Computer class on a laptop.
Never give in to anxiety or fear. You are a star!
