About six months after leaving my first wife, the full weight of what I had done came crashing down on me. The guilt and shame of my choices left me emotionally and spiritually crippled. I felt hopeless in a way I had never known before.

In the heart of the mission, every newcomer was embraced as family. They weren't just acquaintances; they became brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts to me. Among them, Dave—affectionately nicknamed 'Boston' by us all—was someone I grew particularly close to.

October 2017 marked the start of a transformative journey for me, one that began with an unforgettable event. This significant moment didn't lead me down a path of ruin; instead, it unveiled the troubling path I was already on.

For almost seven years, I wandered through a spiritual desert. The isolation and suffering often felt overwhelming. Expressing this experience in different terms is challenging for me. There were times I desired an end to my life. I battled with depression and intense anxiety. Nevertheless, through divine mercy, I have endured. It was a self-imposed agony that I would not wish on my worst enemy.