At about the two month mark, I did something that no other client in the history of that halfway house had done. I requested to enroll in a local, one credit community college class. And to my surprise, it was granted. The halfway house had rules that outside of the house could only be reserved for activities related to medical, recovery, religion and education. While no other client had every explored the education part, I was the first one who tried to fill my days and time with things outside of the house.
This class at the local community college involved me having to ride a bus (which I hadn’t done since before going to jail), going out into the public without any other recovery supports and riding a bus back to a busy bus station at 10:00 at night. Now mind you there is a curfew at the halfway house of 9:00 p.m. But because this was education related and with my track record of being extremely consistent and actively engaged and participating in my treatment, the Director made an exception. Not only did I go to each one of my classes, I also passed! To top it all off, I also passed every drug test I had when I got back.
As I neared the end of my three months at the halfway house, I received a phone call from my probation officer. She called to tell me that I had two options. I could go to the Living in Liberty house like I had wanted to four and a half months ago, or I could go home to my family and daughters.
Without an ounce of regret, it didn’t take long for me to make the decision to commit to going to Liberty. While I wanted to be home with my girls and family and to show everybody how well I was doing, I still had not reached a point in which I felt the Spirit say to me it was time. What I did feel and hear was God’s whisper, which said, ”this is all a part of My plan. I love you; I want you, and I need you to trust me.” So that was what I did.
I was and still am “all in” for God’s love, and trust in His plan which has always worked out much better than mine.
And so…I committed to going to Living in Liberty.