Alberto
God is Great!!!
The following letter was written by a previous Cherry Street guest, Alberto A., who is no longer homeless -- thanks to you!
I am writing this out of humility and appreciation, first of all to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to The Cherry Street Mission for it's concern for the homeless and ex-offenders.
In life one travels different paths, although as a kid I had to overcome the hardships of the unprivileged, my parents gave me the tools to be a decent and honest man. I however plunged myself in the lamentable practice of heavy drinking which proved to be my constant demon.
I attended Catholic Church as a kid and at the age of 6 or 7 years old I made a conscious decision not to sin and to honor God with obedience, all of it flew out the window once I became acquainted with alcohol and drugs.
I came to the Cherry Street Mission Ministries homeless, carless, moneyless, jobless, phoneless,etc...but I was not Godless!!! It took going to prison to listen to His voice and His demands, that is if I wanted to have any kind of meaning in my life. In my darkest hour He came to let me know that I have value to Him and that He has been waiting for me to take the blinds off of my eyes so I cried out to Him and He listen and He gladly came into my heart.
It didn't matter where I was because I was surrounded by Christian brothers and sisters who showed their character by the way they treat those who can do nothing for them, that's the people I encountered at Cherry Street.
Being there afforded me the option to keep on the narrow path or to turn away from it and go back to the life I've always lived. I was provided with agreeable meals for the body and spirit as well, I knew that I had to take full advantage of what was placed in front of me for it had come from the Lord.
A fellow resident offered me the opportunity to work in the dirtiest job I've ever had one day a week which I gladly accepted (although I was sorry within an hour of arrival) The monies I got allowed me to seek better employment but being a felon I encountered many closed doors but I found out that when you're in God's business He is in your business so when doors were shut in my face God opened windows!!!
I didn't realize that so many of the prayers I made in prison were answered until I began to correspond with an inmate to share God's love for us. As I was writing all of the things that I was blessed with it dawned on me how far I had come not by my doing but by the grace and mercy of my Lord whom I serve today.
Since my release I have repaired my relationship with my oldest daughter Stephanie who will be a freshman at Ohio University this fall, I get to spend time with my kids, quality time!!! I have read the Bible to my son in regards to honoring God by using our bodies in a Godly way and not for fleshy desires (he is 12 years old) when I was finished he gave me a big hug.
All of the "lesses" I mentioned above have been changed to "no longer less"
I believe that Cherry Street Mission Ministries is doing and promoting changes in the lives of so many people who may not have any other means of having that very small and simple "push" to become the work that God intended for us.
I am a professional dance instructor working as a waiter in a Mexican restaurant today, I once owned and operated dance studios in Floridaand Ohio. I pray that one day I may be able to do it full time, I know one thing though, this is where God intended for me to be right now.
One last thing, my wife of 20 years has decided not to divorce me, she told me that she made that decision a long time ago, she is a Christian woman, she said to me: " All my friends told me what a fool I was for nor moving forward with the divorce but I thought `How awful it would be for you to get served divorce papers in prison’ so I thought about you before I thought about me"
God is great!!! Isn’t He?
