Luis Gonzalez
When I got to Hope4life my life was a disaster. I had been living away from my wife and son for over a month, I had been robbed, I was in poor physical, emotional and spiritual condition.
My first visit was on a Thursday night men’s group, I had been invited by a friend. My friend did not show up that night and I contemplated leaving. But I am so glad I stayed. For the first time in months I was able to cry and to spew out everything I was going through!
I felt genuine love that night as the men who where there embraced me without judging me and encouraged me to return and to not give up. They said healing was messy but if I stuck through, I would begin to see Hope in my life, the infamous light at the end of the tunnel.
So now, a year and a couple of months later I see Hope! In fact, I see lots of Hope! It’s been a rocky road full of hills and valleys, but through every hill and every valley the people of Hope4life, my friends, have been there with me! Through their personal care, individual conversations, group classes and astronomical amounts of pure love, my life and my family’s lives are beginning to change.
I don’t see God as a Judge anymore; they have taught me to see Him as a Loving Father. And they have done it by continually showing their love for me, despite my actions.
Reminds me of the song; “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love”. Well, Hope4life really practices that! Lol!
I have a long, long way to go, but it is most comforting to know my friends will be there by my side.
Finally, when the children of Israel were exhausted, tired and near death, God brought them to an Oasis called Elim;
Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
They found rest at Elim. I have found rest at my Elim, my precious Hope4life!