Success Stories

Laying His Burdens Down

"I still struggle, but it's getting better," he says.  "My favorite Scripture is Matthew 11:28: 'Come to me , all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Almost everyone experiences depression from time to time, a day or two of what we call "the blues" and then it's gone. But others, like 62-year-old Imants, carry the weight of their depression for a lifetime, until they can no longer carry the burden alone. 

Imants has struggled with emotional and biological depression for much of his adult life.  The depression cost him his first marriage, after 23 years.  Three years ago, it cost him his job and his second marriage.  Unable to work, he lost his apartment. And finally it cost him his three daughters - and he can't remember the last time he spoke to them.

"After that I couldn't really function at all anymore.  It's sort of a hopelessness that I'll never get my life back," Imants says.

With few alternatives, Imants found his way to Kokomo Rescue Mission in March 2010.  "I came here because they could help me with my depression," he says. 

Through recovery classes and his chaplains at the Mission, Imants is learning to rely on Jesus and prayer. "I still struggle, but it's getting better," he says.  "My favorite Scripture is Matthew 11:28: 'Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

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