Nathan

Nathan is 22 and his life has been in chaos since he was a child. He didn’t know his father and his mother, who used drugs and “drank a lot” moved his family from place to place making it difficult for him to maintain any friendships. Unable to cope, he turned to alcohol.

After high school he earned a degree in Graphic Design and had several jobs until he was diagnosed with depression and put on medication.

He gave up drinking but, “I basically traded one addiction for another.” Nathan had problems with his family and beat himself up when he couldn’t reconcile with them. “I didn’t go back to drugs or alcohol and tried to stay on the right path, but I relapsed.” In 2016 he got a job at Walmart, rented a room from a friend, and started an online business. “It was an awesome time until I started slipping up on my money.” Deep in debt, he couldn’t pay his rent and returned to his mother’s. “I tried putting my emotions to the side and work things out with her, but we’d get into another fight.” He located his father in Georgia and stayed with him until his money ran out again. He returned to Virginia, got a job at another Walmart, but it was temporary work and eventually he was let go. Deep in depression, in May 2017, he tried to commit suicide by overdosing on his meds. In a last breath prayer he cried out to God, “If this is the end of me, ok, but I want to do it your way. Give me something to save me.” A friend told him about The Union Mission. “It took two days to convince me to come here. I was deep in anxiety. It was a new place and I didn’t know anyone. I had hit the lowest of low being in a homeless shelter. I didn’t know who to trust. I was ashamed and felt like a loser.” One day, one of the staff saw him sitting alone and sat down with him saying, “we are here for you.” He saved my life and made it easier, and talked me into joining the David Development Program. The David Program helped me develop as a person. Now I am more spiritually minded and walk with Christ. I just needed guidance, but didn’t have it until now. If it wasn’t for the Mission I would have probably taken my life. Now I have a job, a budget plan, and friends, and I want to contribute to the Mission one day.”

Nathan and another “David” moved into their own apartment in January. He has hope now and a future.