It was eight years ago, back in 2001, that Eddie first came to Crossroads Mission. He is a graduate of the New Life Recovery Program. He visited us for our Thanksgiving feast and we had the opportunity to chat with him and learn about the wonderful things that God is doing in his life. Here is what he told us:
Before coming to Crossroads Mission I thought I was living a good life. But I lost everything, my house, my pride. It wasn't until I came here I learned about the Word of God and I realized that I was dead. I left all drugs behind and I started to live. When I came here and I learned about God, they saved my life. If it wasn't for God and the Mission I would not be alive. I will be grateful the rest of my life.
Since I left the Mission, just by not being on drugs and alcohol doors opened. I got my Commercial Driver's License and a good job. I now earn $16 an hour, and I don't say this to show off but to emphasize the change of being clean and sober. Now, I am a valued member of society and I am welcome everywhere. Thanks to God I found a wife and we got married. Now, my kids live with me, I have a house, and everything has been happiness. There’s no comparison from my life before.
Through God's wisdom I can face all problems. Before, I would run from them and cover them up with drugs and alcohol. Today I see life differently, I see it as beautiful. I can admire flowers and birds. The only way to appreciate all this is by being sober and by having Christ in your heart.
I used to see everything as dark and ugly, but I was the one that was dark inside. I thank God that He has taught me to fight temptation. I remember what my life was like and that helps me to not want to use again.
I am forever thankful to the Mission and I recommend it to everyone, to give themselves a chance, to give themselves four months, your life depends on it. They do a good job, they save lives!

This is my story on how I turned from alcohol and drugs to leading a clean and sober life for the past three years. If I continue to do the things that the AA program has taught me, I will have three years clean and sober on December 1st of this year.
I started to drink and use drugs when I attended college in the mid 70’s. There, I was introduced to alcohol and drugs and my life went downhill. This led me to despair, dishonesty, and an obsession that took many years to overcome. Once I started to drink I could not stop.
I was introduced to the AA program in the mid 80’s and because I did not take the program seriously I continued to get clean and sober for short periods of time and I would go out and repeat this action over and over again over the next 25 years. A life that I thought was so rewarding was turning on me. There would be trouble in my life for many years to come because I was not willing to admit that I was a real alcoholic. I tried to drink like normal people do but I could not control my drinking – once I started I could not stop!
From the first time I was arrested in 1985 to the last time in November 30, 2005, I was always starting my life over because of the trouble I go in when I drank and used. I never had a problem getting a job, but always had a problem keeping one. My friends left me, I lost my wife, house – I lost everything I loved! But, there was something that I loved over everything I had and that was alcohol and drugs.
Then came the event that changed my life. I was arrested in 2005 for Aggravated DUI. I was out of control and I do believe to this day that going to county jail and prison was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I didn’t feel that way at the time, but today it has changed my life. I was there for seven months and I had a lot of time to reflect on my life and the events that lead to my incarceration. I knew I had to change my lifestyle or I was destined to return.
The one good thing in my life while attempting to get clean and sober over the past 13 years here in Yuma is that I had knew where to get the help I needed to turn my life around. I was released from prison on July 3, 2006 and I put my plan together that I had prayed for and thought about in prison. I started attending meetings the very next day. I got a sponsor and worked the 12 steps the way he suggested, not mine. I was of service and for the first time in my life I expected nothing in return. I learned that service work was very rewarding and it helped me stay clean and sober by helping others for almost three years now.
Because helping others is so important in my life I wanted to make it my job. I’ve been working at the Men’s Shelter and participating in activities here at Crossroads Mission since May. It is very rewarding to help others so they don’t have to travel the road I have taken and know that there is life to be lived without drugs and alcohol!

If there was ever a doubt whether your donations make a difference at Crossroads Mission, then Eric is the person to meet.
Last January Eric found himself homeless after loosing his apartment, his job, and getting arrested. He came to Crossroads and joined the New Hope Program. But Eric will tell you that the best thing that came out of his stay at Crossroads was his home.
"They gave the best kind of atmosphere that they could and in the end of it all, I came out with a trailer, with a home. They kept me off the street when I didn’t have a place to live, they made sure I had three meals in me a day," he says.
Eric's home is a travel trailer that was donated to Crossroads. His good work and his willingness to change his life made him a perfect candidate to give the trailer to him for free.
He still remembers how it all happened, "I was over here helping out all the time (at the thrift store), I’d come over here even if I didn’t have to for the program. I like being over here. I told Barbara that I had a chance for a place to live but I needed a trailer and I was trying to figure out how to get one. All of a sudden one day Barbara said listen to this recording."
The recording was on Barbara Rochester's voice mail and it was a donor wanting to donate the trailer and wondering if we could use it. Well, Eric sure could use it! He is now living at Prestige Mobile Homes as the security and handy man.
Eric says, "My life is very different now because I have my own home... If you’ve got availability to help, then please do so." So, the next time you're wondering whether to donate or not to donate, remember Eric.