“My life changed in more ways than I could imagine”

I was born in Alice and attended high school in Hebbronville, Texas. I graduated with good grades and received a scholarship to attend St. Edward’s University in Austin. I did well in school and got along with all the students, teachers and staff.
 
My grandparents raised me, and my grandmother often took me to the Catholic Church. She had a firm faith in God. I received my first communion and became an altar server, and I really liked Mass.
 
I worked in many restaurants, and within two weeks, I would become the manager or assistant manager of the establishment where I worked. Then, somewhere along the line, I hit rock bottom. I started using drugs and alcohol. After that, I started doing wrong things, and I ended up in prison. But I got out, got my good behavior back, and started working and doing well. I stayed away from prison for more than 15 years. But then, I started my old habits again and ended up in prison two more times.
 
I told myself, “Enough is enough.” A friend of mine, Ezra Vela, told me to call her cousin Servando so that he could send me to the Farm of Hope. This program helps people overcome addictions, get closer to God, and become different persons. I said, “I’ll try it for three months and then leave.”
 
Now, it has already been nine months, and I am about to finish this program. God willing, I’ll become a missionary to help others in the same situation I was in.
 
Back to my life in addiction: I was a “drupeh,” a drug addict for many years. It led me to a life of crime, hate, and misery. I hurt lots of people, loved ones, family, and acquaintances. I hurt the people closest to me. I felt free when I was high, then when I came down, all my problems and struggles came back.
 
When I finally came to know the Lord, my savior, my life changed in more ways than I could imagine. All the pain, hate, misery, hurt etc., are gone. Slowly but surely, they became a void in my life. I discovered my value and that I am loved no matter what others think of me.
 
The Bible is a map that shows us the way to heaven, and I want my life to count. I want to make a difference in my life and others’ lives. Thanks to God, most and first of all – I was blind, but now, I see.
 
Cassiano Silva and Ayres Rocha, missionaries at the Farm of Hope in Corpus Christi, guided me on this path. I thank them for their years of devotion to helping others in need.  I hope to be helpful to others who need to recover from addiction.
 
The Farm of Hope, or Fazenda de Esperanza, was founded in Brazil in 1985 and helps people recover from addiction through a program based on three pillars: community, work, and spirituality. The community is designed to feel like a family, work provides a way to take responsibility for one's life, and spirituality offers meaning and direction. There are more than 100 Farms on four different continents. The Farm of Hope in Corpus Christi is the first in North America. For more information, contact Cassiano Silva at (361) 910-5462 or email [email protected].