Ralphy's story

Ralphy was freezing cold. It was a chill that seeped into his very soul. Memories of the tropical climate of Micronesia where he grew up felt like a distant dream.

He’d spent the last two rainy winters living homeless in the greater Seattle area. Prior to his struggle with addiction, he’d had a good life. He was married with a daughter and a son. After a messy separation, all that was gone. The only thing that mattered was his next drug hit. “I was homeless and spent well over a year high,” Ralphy says, “I smelled, and I couldn’t even take care of myself.”

He remembers the night someone from the Mission’s Search + Rescue team came and cared for him. “He just pulled over and gave me food and hot cocoa. He even gave me a sweater. And it made me think, ‘Man, what am I doing?’” Ralphy shares with tears in his eyes.

Recovery at the Mission

That encounter made Ralphy realize the way he was living wasn’t bearable. He needed a change. “I was ready,” he admits. “When I was on the street, I stopped thinking.” Today, Ralphy’s working through recovery at the Mission. “Now that I’m here, I’m thinking again and trying to make myself useful,” he says.

As he looks back on his life, Ralphy’s biggest regret is not only the years wasted to drugs, but the missed opportunities to watch his children grow up. He recently received a letter from his 14-year-old daughter saying, “Where have you been, Dad? I need you in my life.” He broke down after reading these words, but they’re also motivating him to become a better father — one his children can look up to. That’s why he’s dedicated to the task of changing his life from the inside out.

Hope for the future

With encouragement from the Mission’s team, Ralphy discovered a deeper relationship with God. He still has much to heal from, but he’s taking it one day at a time. “It’s tough for me to change, but I believe in the power of God. When I’m done with the men’s recovery program, I hope to get a job and go home. I want to take more responsibility as a father.”