A Journey of Redemptoin

Turning point newslettter
My name is Mario Orta, and I am 42 years old. I’ve been a student at Turning Point for 11 months, and today I can honestly say I am blessed—but it hasn’t always been this way.

I started using drugs as a teenager. Growing up around domestic violence, I witnessed things at a young age that have affected me deeply. I ran away from home at 13, and from then on, I was always running—running from my problems, running from myself, and choosing to cope by using drugs.

This path led me into a cycle of being in and out of jail, where I even overdosed twice while incarcerated.

One of those times, everyone had given up on me, thinking I was dead. But one officer didn’t give up on me. I truly believe that God used him to save my life, knowing that one day I would become an example of how life can change.

This happened when I was 33, it took 8 more years of destruction, but eventually, I hit rock bottom. I spent more than a year living under a tree in Slab City, breaking my mother’s heart. At 41, I was arrested again, facing five years in prison.

That’s when I was given the opportunity to enter Turning Point Men’s Home.
 
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Even 5 Years In Prison Didn't Convince Me...
At first, I wasn’t ready to give up my old lifestyle. The consequence of 5 years in prison didn’t seem so bad, so I walked away from the Men’s Home after just three weeks.

But after two days on the run, my mom called. She told me something that broke me—she didn’t have five years to wait for me. That hit me hard. I knew my mom was sick, but I hadn’t realized how serious it was.

I couldn’t imagine losing her while being stuck behind prison walls. That moment changed everything. God gave me another chance to return to the Home, and I accepted it.

Since then, my life has improved. I’ve learned that even though we all fall short, it’s in pushing forward through our mistakes that we find true growth. During my time here, I’ve been saved, baptized, and God has begun restoring my whole life.

I have a child I didn’t know about, and what a blessing to be given the opportunity to be a father! Today, I have a healthy relationship with my mom and both of my children.

My mom used to pray for me when I was lost. Now, by God’s grace, I am the one praying for her.

I am deeply grateful for what God has done in my life through Turning Point, and I thank everyone who supports this ministry. Because of you, I am experiencing true restoration in my walk with God and with my family.