Joseph once lived a life of structure, discipline and purpose. After 15 years as a medic in the military, he returned home carrying unseen wounds.
“I came back with a case of PTSD, which I tried to manage by myself,” he says. “I was stubborn and didn’t want to get help.” Instead, he turned to alcohol.
Facing a broken marriage and legal trouble, Joseph coped through substance use, and his addiction worsened. Joseph felt he was left with nothing. “I literally had nowhere to go and nothing to turn to. It was a horrible feeling.” For the first time in his life, he admits, “I was ready to accept defeat.”
“I walked in here with a backpack full of clothes. Now I have a job, a car and I’m rebuilding my life.”
Everything changed when Joseph came to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. Though he felt uncertain at first, he soon found stability, community and guidance. “My mental health alone is exponentially improved,” he reflects. “They gave me the solid foundation I needed to rebuild.”
Through the support of staff and mentors, Joseph also rediscovered something he had lost long ago: his faith. “I had turned away from my faith for 15 years, but I found it again. Along with that faith, I found hope and inspiration. I have a far better understanding of the Bible now.”
Today, Joseph’s life looks completely different. He’s working, rebuilding relationships with his family members and even leading a growing outreach feeding people who are homeless every Sunday. “It’s made me a lot more empathetic, a lot more compassionate toward people who I used to not understand.”
Because of you, Joseph is experiencing Thanksgiving in a whole new way this year… with a fresh perspective on life and a heart of gratitude. “The Mission gave me a second chance. I’m able to use my skills as a medic again to help people. It feels great to feel useful again.”