Michael Tutt, and his wife Susan, are among those we consider ourselves fortunate to have as volunteers. Susan has volunteered to help over the holidays at the former Men’s Shelter in Santa Ana, while Michael is a newer volunteer, having spent a little over a year with us. Currently, he writes the Volunteer Spotlight for this very newsletter and for the Rescue Mission Web site, and since starting, has contributed 12 Spotlight articles for publication.

Michael was born in the United Kingdom, and from an early age held a strong interest in technology. By age 10 he had built his first radio, and at 16, already a licensed ham radio user, he founded a school Radio Club where he prepared eight of his peers to pass the test for licensing as well.

In 1993, while teaching Computer Science at a college in London, Michael lost his vision from glaucoma. Determined not to give up, however, Michael decided to learn UK employment law, and soon found himself working as a consultant with over 600 different companies.

In 2000, Michael met his stateside wife-to-be Susan in an Internet messaging session, and a long-distance relationship was born. After a courtship replete with “across the pond” visits, they eventually married in 2003. That same year Michael moved to the United States.

In early 2008, Michael started volunteering with OCRM and through this bond there has blossomed a mutually rewarding experience. “It is wonderful to talk with such a diverse group of people passionate to be of value to Christ and their community. Whatever their backgrounds and whatever their skills, God and the Rescue Mission can use them to be a blessing to those who have little in this world.”

We at the Orange County Rescue Mission would like to commend Michael for all of the work he has done for us, and let him know that it has not gone unrecognized.

Thank you, Michael.