Joel says he believes his downward spiral began at the age of 14 when his girlfriend died. “ I had went against everything I had been taught and that I believed in: I began using drugs, I became violent and I got involved in the occult and Satanism. I was really destructive… a ticking time bomb.”
After his return, Joel became agreeable for the remainder of his time at MMS. He remains one of the best mechanics we ever had. But after MMS, Joel continued to make some bad choices (except he was not as destructive as before.) When he finally decided to turn his life around, he credit’s the things h learned at MMS as a major reason for making the change. “ When I realized I needed help, God was there, the things I learned about God from the staff members really remained with me. I’ll never forget the things I learned at MMS evensong I hated it at the time.” Joel plans to serve in the army for a few years, learn a trade and then go to college. He hopes one day to be a father and a heavy equipment mechanic.