Day 1 Guiding Light Briseno

We went to Guiding Light Missions. When we got there we were told to sit down and wait for the lady who was supposed to show us around, but she never showed up. After about 20 or 30 minutes of sitting, a guy named Joshua who worked there had given us a tour around and showed us what goes on and where some of the people sleep and live. Then he had taken us to the kitchen and we had helped with making salad for the people that were going to eat lunch and another for dinner. While we were dicing tomatoes and mushrooms he told us that there was a group meeting that was going on that we could observe and kind of learn what they talk about, so we went to that.

While in the meeting, we introduced ourselves and told what were doing and what school we're from. There were 8 guys who were in this group that had been through stuff and talked about their problems with their addictions. One experience that I liked was when the counselor said that we were going to do a popcorn thing could tell the story of what happend to us. As guys were talking i was debating with myself whether or not to tell what I've gone through. When it was complete silence when one of the guys stopped talking, i raised my hand. I asked the counselor if i can share what I've been through and he said yes. I was comfortable with sharing what I had been through, because they had been so open with the problems in their lives. I said, "I know I'm still young... I don't drink or smoke but I've been through a lot at the age of 10 that me or any other kid should never go through. My father was an alcoholic and I used to live with him and we would move from house to house and he could never keep a good job because of his substance abuse, and we would sometimes stay at different friends houses and sleep there." I was really touched by what they said and am glad that they are trying to get better.