One man's story in recovery
After Paul had been in the program for about a month, another resident challenged him to consider seeing his recovery through to the end of the program. “Why not stay for the rest of the program,” he asked, “what’s another couple of months?”
Paul decided to stay. He graduated from the program and stayed in touch with the Mission, helping out any way he could.
About 2½ years later, Paul died of natural causes – clean and sober – while the person who convinced him to stay died in his addiction about a year after Paul.
To me this story sums up the struggle of addiction and how it isn’t just UGM staff that has an influence on the people we serve; those we serve – our guests and residents – are also part of the process.
Sometime after he had graduated from the recovery program, we received this letter from Paul, which he asked we share with anyone involved with UGM. So here are Paul’s words of gratitude to the many donors, volunteers and staff – who made his recovery possible.
“We received a letter from Paul, which he asked we share with anyone involved with UGM.”
"I would like to thank everybody that makes this place work. All of you that make UGM an oasis in a sea of human despair.
You people have given me a second chance at life. You can compare yourselves to the doctors who save patient’s lives by performing a delicate operation. You can compare yourselves to a fireman who rescues a child out of a fire. You are missionaries spreading life and good will in one of the wildest and most dangerous jungles in the world. You are my heroes. You brave people keep helping the most downtrodden every day. God is in this building. God is with you. You are the Good Samaritan.
To me you are the most needed and important people in this world at the moment. You are doing Christ’s work. Please do not stop. And I thank you for sharing your love with me.
Thank you."
