From Fighting for Survival to Finding New Life

Football, boxing, and karate were his escapes, but they couldn’t heal the pain inside. Addiction crept in slowly—first marijuana, then alcohol, and eventually harder drugs. Each substance acted as a temporary bandage on wounds that needed real healing.

His lowest moment came when he was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors told him he would die before Christmas, but a voice within him, which he would later recognize as God’s, whispered, “You’re going to be okay.” Instead of opting for chemotherapy, he chose faith and changed his diet. Miraculously, he survived.

But life continued to test him. His wife cheated on him, his health deteriorated, and he found himself homeless with his fiancée, living on the streets. They were trapped in a cycle of addiction, with drugs becoming their only source of comfort.

Then came Easter.

At the Easter blessings event, people from the Gospel Rescue Mission saw something in Benito that he couldn’t see in himself. They didn’t just offer food; they offered transformation. When they asked if he was ready to change, something broke inside him.

“I was sick and tired of being tired,” Benito later reflected. He left everything behind—his tent, his belongings, and his old life.

Once he settled into the Gospel Rescue Mission, he recalled a miraculous event. During a prayer service, he felt hands touching him—the hands of spiritual guidance leading him toward salvation. He cried, surrendering his pain to God. “I never knew God until now,” he stated.

Today, Benito is not just clean; he is transformed. He is rebuilding relationships with his children and sharing hope with others.

He proves that no matter how dark the night, morning always comes. His advice to others struggling is powerful and simple: Don’t be afraid to seek help. Find a relationship with God, stay committed to your recovery, and trust that this life is just a trial—something better awaits.