June 2022 Newsletter

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Freedom From Bondage

Bryan arrived at the Mission from the Douglas County Jail, wearing Department of Corrections issued clothing. He wore sweat pants, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. The clothing he had going to jail was torn up. Besides, he had gained 17 pounds from being booked to released. Clothing that fit right continued to be an issue as he returned to his normal weight at the Mission. Drug addiction had taken away his appetite, and recovery brought it back.

Life had been going along fine. Bryan lived with his girlfriend and her parents in their house. His job was working with her father. But the family and employment arrangement fell apart with the news of his girlfriend expecting a child from another guy. Bryan turned to drugs as an escape, but it caused him to lose both his place to live and work. He was then homeless and lived in his van until it was impounded.

At a city park, he was given a tent and camping supplies. Bryan said, “Its a bad thing, because they are enabling the homeless. Friends died from drug use. Needle exchange is enabling, just as bad as giving away camping equipment.” He said that he did not try to get out of addiction camping, because everything was provided for him to stay in it. His turnaround began when he was arrested, then went to the Mission. He said, “Look what the Mission did for me. In a few months, I am completely sober and working a great job. I have never been this healthy. The difference is that I would have been back on the street.”

A few weeks after arriving here, he got a job at a mill. He had asked another man at the Mission, that returned dirty every day, where he worked. Now, Bryan rideshares with a co-worker, and they split the rent on a two bedroom apartment in Roseburg. He started his job working 48 hours a week, but having three days off and a paycheck was too much idle time and temptation. So, he works a fifth day to stay busy.

Bryan said, “I was raised a Christian, and I have seen tons of faith here. I hurried to get here from work to chapel, because it would help me through my sobriety struggles. It gave me reason and faith. If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have gotten here. I am in a way better place, and there is a future for me now.” Bryan wanted his picture taken by the mural on our Dayroom wall to show that his bondage is broken.