Testimony, Sioux Falls

2-2022           C.B.

When I was released from prison in 2017,  I was sent to a halfway house in Sioux Falls. There was a bible study I had to attend and people from Celebrate Freedom also attended. I was invited to the weekly breakfast at Celebrate Freedom and to church.  The breakfast time was a time for me to socialize with other people that were in the same situation, create new friendships, and where we helped each other with resources and job availability.  We were encouraged to go to church of our choice.   Celebrate Freedom provided transportation to church for many of us.  Celebrate Freedom’s ministry emphasis was loving God and loving people. The ministry encouraged us to go to serve in various ways, so I got involved at the church, helped direct traffic at Jazz Fest, and delivered food to various places.  I was able to reconnect with my family and people from Celebrate Freedom were willing to take me to North Dakota and chaperone the visit.  I ended up going back to prison for 18 months and Celebrate Freedom helped me by staying in contact, taking care of my belongings, gave me encouraging support, and prayed for me.  Upon being released again, I was blessed to be able to go into a Celebrate Freedom residence and was welcomed back into the program.  I am thankful for the positive friendships and mentorship I have had as I integrate back into the community.

To say I am grateful for Celebrate Freedom is an understatement.     I was provided transportation to breakfast and church  while I completed treatment for my addiction.  When I left the Glory House and went my own way,  they stayed in contact with me.  They always told me  that God loved me, that I was important, that I could be free from the addictive life.  One day I was sick and tired of running, and couch surfing, and not knowing if my "stuff" was going to go missing .  I reached out  to Celebrate Freedom .  They came and got me, waited for me while I got my stuff together,  and  took me in.  I had a lot of trauma I had bottled up inside.  They  allowed me to grieve for people I had lost,  and provided a positive sober community of support as I left my life of addiction.  The encouragement I got as I looked for work and the assistance I received until my paychecks  were able to help pay for lodging and provisions gave me room to breathe without fear of being homeless. The programs I was to attend were exactly what I needed to get my life back on track.  I learned to trust again, to believe I was good enough, to understand that God really did have a plan for my life.   They encouraged me to reach out and take class in the community.  Through the classes, and church and recovery groups, I realized I couldn't do this changing on my own and I placed my faith in a higher power.   I was clean for a 14 months.  Then trying to prove a point, I relapsed; I realized quickly how ridiculous that was.   I immediately told my mentor at Celebrate Freedom and did not get condemnation or kicked out of the program.  I did get love and support and some guidance to    start my clean time over.   I am now  I am now 135 days clean and sober and am enjoying my work.  I just moved out of the sober living house into my own living space.   I am free and happy and know I couldn't have done it without Celebrate Freedom's support.