My Story

by Richard Ramirez 

I grew up in the small town of Santa Paula. Although my parents tried the best they could, but I still ended up in prison at the age of 30.

Everyone that loved me had given up on me including my girlfriend who had given birth to my son the day before I was arrested.  It was during my time in Delano State Prison that I made the decision to follow Christ. That day, alone in my cell was the most life changing day of my life.

I was transferred to Soledad prison and it was there that I met Tony Sanchez. Tony had served 15 years of his life sentence. Tony had also given his life to Christ and was now an ordained minister. He took me under his wing and mentored me in my new journey with Christ. It may sound strange but it was a good time in my life…  I was in prison but on the in the inside I was set free.

I was released from Soledad in May 1998 and a month later I married my girlfriend Leanna. Richie, my son was now one and Leanna was expecting another. I went back to college to take accounting and business courses which helped me land great jobs as an Accounts Payable Coordinator, things were going great so I thought. 

Although I was “saved” and forgiven I still had a lot to learn… but I thought I new it all. Newly married, and not reading my Bible and praying, I was headed in for a disaster.  I slowly drifted off the path, my wife left me and I started to use heroin again. 

I would be home alone and I would wake up on the bathroom floor hours later after taking an over-dose of heroin.

I surrendered myself over to the Ventura County Rescue Mission that was Dec. 21, 2009. I just knew this is where I should be. It was Christmas time and this was my present.  

Although I was now detoxed I knew I needed more, I was spiritually still off course. The mission's programs and the staff that taught them helped me to grow in all aspects of my life. There are some things and people that I will never forget and will always be grateful for.... 

• Harold “big love”Turner his messages started the fire I once had.  He is one of the counselors but he would teach in the mornings our first 90 days of the program.
• My personal councilors Mike Darden and Mike Cowan,  they were there for me when I had questions, they gave me good advise and sound doctrine. I love them for that.
• The 12 steps program they implement helped me to examine my life. The program is based on the Word and taught me the character of God and the plan he has for my life.
• The food at the mission was the bomb! Especially the salad bar, they would serve Tuna, Egg, or Chicken salad daily in addition to our wonderful dinner, and the deserts were oh yea!
• The weight room was another benefit, it helped me loose 90 pounds I feel like a brand new man now.  I can almost keep up with my kids now.  I would listen to Christian music and run on the tread mill, I had a dream to go hiking again to the punch bowls, it’s a 3 hour hike in upper Ojai to an old swimming hole, God delivered that dream, I went 4 times in 2010.
• The rooms where I slept were always clean; they made us clean them, all part of preparing us for our lives.  We had nice hot showers too.
• They assigned us jobs. I worked at the garage in Santa Paula, there I got to not only learn about mechanics, but more importantly I built a relationship with Jim Bennet. The music he would play will stick with me forever… all the latest Christian artist. Jim is a great teacher too, both in mechanics and the Bible.  I also worked at the car lot with Grace and Nelly they were like sisters to me.
• Not only were all of these people and things great but we also got to put what we were learning into practice. Feeding the homeless and checking them in at night. I learned to help the less fortunate.         

Since I graduated in 2010, my wife and I go for long walks on the beach, go out to eat at lots of different places, drink coffee every morning and we talk.  I take my boys on my hikes and fishing trips, life is now good, we still have our disagreements and my kids can be brats but that’s life, I’ve learn to laugh it off.

We attend church regularly every Sunday, at Reality in Ventura, it helps and we live as Christians everyday.  I love to worship and would like to learn an instrument but for now I rise my hands and I be the instrument.

I realize some people don’t make it, but some do and that is the hope we should have as Christians. I realize I cannot save the world only Christ can but what I have learned to do is just focus on the cross and what He did for me. There is still this thing called sin so I will fall, but now that I am in love with His Grace, I can always get back up. I’m quick to ask God to forgive me and move on.

Isa. 40:31 - For those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, 
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not grow faint.