Easter miracles happen here every day.

“The word ‘Easter’ doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s a kids’ holiday with eggs,” says Cliff. “But the word ‘resurrection’? That means God has given each of us an opportunity to live — a spiritual way to deal with life and hardships.”

Cliff knows hardships, but it didn’t start out that way. He grew up in Compton in a middle-class home with both parents. He didn’t drink or take drugs or get into trouble — until he was 17 and his parents divorced. He began hanging out with his dad’s new friends — and smoking marijuana “recreationally.” Over the next 20 years, he got married, had a daughter and always worked. But Cliff had two really big problems:

1. Something deep inside him told him he didn't deserve anything good. He sabotaged every opportunity he got. He was accepted into the LAPD, but sabotaged that. He went to college for a year, then blew that. Over and over, there were lots of “almost” successes.
2. During the crack epidemic of the 1980s, Cliff saw crack as a great way to make money, which it was — until the day he tried it. The next 20 years, he rode the roller coaster of being on and off drugs — and all the problems that came with it.

Finally, Cliff ’s family got tired of taking him back. Tough love kicked in. Cliff knew about the Orange County Rescue Mission. Over the years he had come by for a meal. This time he had hit rock bottom. It felt like his very last chance, so he took it. “I’m not the same person,” he beams. “I’ve been sober for six months, I read scripture, go to a Christian recovery group and I’m learning patience and tolerance.” Best of all, he has reconnected with his family.

Why will Cliff make it this time? He has three reasons to think so:

1. With a church home, a sponsor and genuine friends, he will keep building on his success at the Mission.
2. “I have a healthy fear — that couple of weeks on the streets scared me. I know what I would turn into and I don’t want that to happen.”
3. “God. I give Him all the glory.”

Thank you. Your gifts are making a life-saving difference — giving men, women and families a chance for a new life. God bless you!

Angela Acosta's mom was a heroin addict and an alcoholic. She and her siblings grew up hard — abused and neglected. When she was little, she often slept in the car. At age 15, Angela was about four months pregnant when she and her family had to resort to sleeping in the car again — mom, step-dad and Angela in the front and three small brothers in the back. Since they had to sleep sitting up, she had to shift the baby in her uterus to one side to make room.

Angela experimented with drugs, but never became an addict. She spent her life trying to find a man who would love her — a knight in shining armor to come and save her. That was her real addiction. It didn’t work out. Now she has four kids by three different fathers. She loves her kids. The lack of love she got makes her love them more.

As a 15-year-old mom, Angela made mistakes with her older kids. She didn’t have a mom to help her or show her anything. Finding a way to do better for her youngest is one of the main reasons she's at the House of Hope. Angela wants to give her youngest, Benjamin, all the confidence, love, faith and opportunity she never had. They pray and read the Bible together. He loves God and wants to serve Him. When Angela picks him up from school, they talk. Benjamin even asks to pray with her!

But day-to-day living is still hard for Angela. Some days she's so down she wants to crawl into bed, curl up into a fetal position and just cry. But when she looks at Benny, she knows she has to make herself get going. She has to make a life for him — break the cycle of poverty, abuse and drug use.

That’s why Easter is so special to Angela. She thinks of all Jesus had to go through — first they loved Him and adored Him, then they spit on Him and killed Him. But Jesus still loved people when they turned on Him. Angela is learning that she has to carry her cross with Jesus every day. She has to walk in love no matter how hard it is. When she tells her son “You can do it!” she's telling herself, too.

Easter is a second chance. It’s a gift from God — and it’s a gift from all the donors who keep the Rescue Mission going, too. Thank you.