Dean's Story
Dean
Dean couldn't sleep. It was winter in Seattle and he was underdressed for the near-freezing temperatures. When the rain and wind hit, he sought refuge under a bridge. And so did the rats.
“I had a great job, but most of what I earned went to my addiction. Eventually, I lost everything.”
“I was born and raised in Vietnam. My mom put me on one of the last helicopters leaving Saigon at the end of the war. It caused me a lot of pain. When I got to America, I didn’t even know my own name. The worst part was I forgot my mother’s name. For years, I tried to cover those feelings with drugs and alcohol.”
Although Dean had a well-paying job, most of his income was spent on feeding his addictions.
“Even with all that money, I just felt so miserable. Eventually, I lost it all. I never thought I’d be homeless, but I was. I just remember praying and asking God to really come into my life. That’s how I found the recovery program at the Mission.”
Today, Dean oversees all the kitchens and food service operations at the Mission. A graduate of the Men’s Recovery Program, he’s been living a life free of drugs and alcohol for four years.
“I’m passionate about touching people through the meals we serve. Every day I try to connect with somebody in a positive, uplifting way. I want to share the gospel through my actions. I want to extend the love and gratitude I feel to others.”
“There are times in the kitchen I just cry because I know what the guys in line are feeling. It’s amazing what a simple meal can do to for a person when they’re hungry.”
MISSION PROGRAMS THAT HELPED DEAN
Help our homeless neighbors
living on the street this summer
Every $15.24 delivers a Summer Survival Kit
and the chance to start a new life.
