Luis, third from the left, graduated from the men’s Life Recovery Program and is currently in the Transitional Living Program. He now works full-time at one of our thrift stores.

This is the final story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Luis’ story, recounting his journey to a new life.

Luis smiled when he recalled December of 2023. “It was my first Christmas with my three boys in years,” he said, “and we all got together at my mom’s place. I still wasn’t able to buy a lot of gifts, but what mattered most is that we were all together.”

The holidays can be a wonderful time of family gatherings, shared meals, gratitude, and love for many. But for those who have been caught in a cycle of addiction, it can also be a time of loneliness and guilt. But as Luis’s story shows us, there is always hope for things to be different.

Luis, along with his younger sister, grew up in Oxnard. His father died when Luis was 8 but even after that, with only a single parent to care for the family, he felt loved and well cared for. “We weren’t rich, of course, but we had everything we needed, and my mom worked hard to take care of us,” said Luis. “I especially remember her spoiling us at Christmas.”

Life got more complicated as Luis got older, however, and by the time he was 16 he had been in and out of juvenile hall six times for possession of marijuana. “Up to that point I wasn’t doing anything really bad,” he said, “but the laws were a lot tougher then.”

Though he didn’t graduate, Luis managed to complete four years of This Christmas, Luis has “a real peace” in his heart high school before his life took a darker turn when he began using methamphetamines. “This time when I was caught with drugs, I was 18, which meant no more juvenile hall,” said Luis, “and I ended up doing six months in county jail. Despite his time in jail, Luis continued down the
same path and before long he was selling cocaine to support himself.

“Deep inside there was a part of me that wanted to change, and each time I was in jail I prayed to God to help me,” he said. “But once out I just went back to my old ways So, I started asking God to help me remember what I had prayed for once I was out.”

After being incarcerated for eight months at age 26, Luis met someone, and they eventually had three children together. “I was working on and off that whole time and trying to be a good father but in reality, I was still running amok,” he said. “One of the lows for me was missing Christmas with my sons, twice, because I was in jail.”

After Luis and his children’s mother split up, he was even more determined to turn his life around. He came to the Mission in May of 2022 but only stayed for a short time. “I thought I was ready to finally put my old life behind me, but I didn’t realize how much of a hold it had on me,” he said. Shortly after leaving, Luis found himself in the most serious trouble he had ever been in after being convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and sentenced to three years in prison. Fortunately, he was offered time in a supervised program as an alternative, and with his cousin’s help, Luis came back to the Mission in November of 2022.

Luis is excited to have reconciled with his family. He can’t wait to spend Christmas with
his two sons

“I was so relieved to be back in the program because at this point, I was so done with my way of life that even jail looked good to me. I somehow knew that this time I would find the strength to (leave that lifestyle behind), with the help of God and the Mission.”

Luis did find what he was looking for, and in September of 2024 he completed 10 months of the Life Recovery Program and transitioned into Vocational Residency, working at one of RMA’s thrift stores. After finishing his vocational training Luis was hired as a full-time staff member and now resides at the Mission’s transitional living apartments. Looking back on all that has changed, Luis said he realizes how far he has come.

“Just a few years ago I was trapped in a bad place, and I saw no way out. But coming back to the Mission changed my life and my sons’ lives as well. Now I get to be the father I should have been all along.

I see them on a regular basis as we will soon be celebrating our third Christmas together in a row. I now have a real peace in my heart, and I feel God’s presence with me at all times.

Luis looks forward to finding his own place and being able to have his boys stay with him. And, of course, they all look forward to many more holidays together.