“We Can’t Do It Alone”

Dani (right) and Mariah, participants in the women’s Life Change Program, have found strength in their recoveries by relying on each other and their sisters in the program.

Dani DiMarco had a relationship with God, but like so much of her life, she was practicing her faith and trying to stay clean alone.

When she entered the women’s Life Change Program at the Eugene Mission, everything changed. Growing up, Dani says she struggled with an alcoholic mom and feeling as if she never fit in. She had a long history of isolating, so when she joined a community, her world opened in extraordinary ways, she says.

“I’m just blown away by how much I’ve grown,” Dani said. “I’ve always had a real relationship with God, but I’ve never had a communal relationship with God. To have that corporate unity where we’re attending recovery groups, classes after church and the chapel services here – the movement I see is amazing.”

Dani was baptized on Easter, along with three other program participants – Karlington, Mariah and Jordan. “God is doing something great here,” Dani said. “He’s stirring the hearts of his people. Moving together is just amazing.”

Healing in, and through, relationships is one of the keystones of the Life Change Program, which takes participants on a journey to understand, and overcome, the root causes of their addictions. Participants live together, learn and worship together and resolve conflicts together in an atmosphere of both grace and accountability.

Without community, there would be no one to stir the waters and no one to help us get in. As many participants have shared, communal living offers powerful opportunities for growth to those who are ready to stretch.

Jordan, a participant in the men’s Life Change Program, said being part of a larger group gives people a chance to see healing take place in real time.

“I think there’s great power in pooling spiritual resources with your brothers and sisters,” he said. “When you do it by yourself, you’re not connected to the realness right away. When you do it as a group, you can see the results.”

Before coming to the Eugene Mission, guest Mariah was living in a tent and doing drugs. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” she shared. Now, she says she’s enjoying the little things in life and is happier and more grateful than she’s ever been. Recovery, let alone happiness, wasn’t possible on her own.

Karlington, who just entered the endurance phase of the men’s Life Change Program, realized that he couldn’t get better if he was still surrounded by the same people who weren’t interested in changing.

“Hearing stories of the other men’s recoveries inspires me,” he shared. “It’s cool to see someone, even in the worst position, come out of it.”

Karlington first embraced a relationship with God when he was in jail, but since coming into the program, he’s gained a significant faith community.

“I figure, if I have this much support, what’s to stop me from keeping Jesus in my life this time?” he said. “I realized in jail I let God into my heart a long time ago, and he started working his magic, but I couldn’t maintain that relationship on my own.”

“I couldn’t do it on my own” is a familiar refrain among program participants. They tried before, many times, and it didn’t work. The program shows them that the bonds of love are even stronger than the bonds of addiction.

“The Holy Spirit is very powerful when you see what he can do in others’ lives,” Karlington said.