Bobby - February 2020

“They all saw something in me. They gave me confidence, they didn’t let me run, they encouraged me, and never lied to me.” Those are words you’ll read below in Bobby’s testimony. They are words that embody the culture at Watered Gardens. The “something” is the reflection of God we see in every person. The “confidence” is something we naturally convey through faith in God to do the miraculous. “Encouraged” is simply the work of true compassion. And “never lied to” is the truth we share gracefully, yet without compromise. It changed Bobby’s life.

“Growing up in an abusive home, there was no hope. And when I looked to alcohol to help manage my life, I ended up in a vicious cycle of alcohol abuse and jail. Things got really bad when I then started using meth. As meth took over my life for 22 years, I also started to lose my vision. In a matter of weeks, I went from seeing with both eyes to now only being able to see out of one, and that one was just recently diagnosed with macular degeneration.

“I had been to Watered Gardens over a decade ago, but my failure to stay clean had me feeling such shame that I stayed away for years. Then I had a life-changing encounter with God, and that led me to come back to Watered Gardens last year for help. I found that the people around me - the volunteers, the staff - they all saw something in me. They gave me confidence, they didn’t let me run, they encouraged me, and never lied to me.

“God is real. I have no doubts about that. I want to give Him the glory for my life, and I am ready to be part of something bigger than myself. I’ll be moving into my own place soon, and I look forward to coming back and serving at Watered Gardens for as long as I am able.”

I’ve personally known Bobby for years. I’ve never seen him so good. He’s off the streets, he’s off drugs and he’s off to a brand new start! Your support is what made this incredible turnaround possible. Thank you.