Mazzei is one of those people that the true transforming power of Christ is evident. Mazzei fell in love with the Lord at Hannah's Haven and then continued her recovery at Hearthstone Services. When Mazzei entered Hannah's she was depressed and grumpy. Now the joy of the Lord overflows and she expresses an attitude of gratefulness as she transitions to independent living at Green Gardens. Mazzei has many health challenges and Flood volunteers were able to assist her in getting to doctor appointments and leading her in weekly Bible study.

Jon Juarez started attending Flood/Celebration the first night we began transporting from recovery homes in January 2007. Jon fights a continuous battle with bone cancer, lost his wife 8 years ago and has had a life filled with dependence on drugs and primarily alcohol addiction that began in childhood. Jon entered the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center six months ago, the word that kept coming to him was surrender. Two months into the program he did surrender his life to Christ and shared with Saturday night attenders in January that every morning since, he wakes up and says: "GOOD MORNING JESUS!" Jon is striving to live as Christ desires. Jon strives to do something for someone else each and every day. Jon graduated on January 19 and now has full time employment in customer service and has taken the next step to transitional housing.

Denise Brock gives God all the glory for all the blessings she has received recently. Denise has made several attempts to recover from alcohol addiction always landing right back in the riverbed literally. Denise lost custody of her daughter Taylor, on February 21, 2006 or as she puts it that is the day "God got her attention." On June 21, 2007 she listened. When she walked into Hannah's Haven she said "Ok, tell me about this God thing." Denise is a powerful example of what real change looks like. She is in a deep personal moment by moment relationship with Jesus Christ, journaling on scripture and worshipping each morning. Faithfully attending Valley Bible Fellowship and Flood. Denise regained full custody of Taylor on Christmas Day 2007. Denise has her own apartment and is attending classes and working at Bakersfield College.

Andy Richardson is one of our most faithful attenders and volunteers on Saturday Nights. Andy started coming to Celebration/Flood early in 2007 when a fellow resident at Ryan's Retreat invited him to go. He shares that Mossman's chicken strips kept bringing him back. Andy celebrated one year clean from drugs in December, has been released from probation, is an usher at the Rock Church, and recently began assisting at Positive Vision with other men suffering from addiction. When someone asks why his recovery looks so different? He says because it is all about "transformation through Christ Jesus not staying clean," he confesses "I had to change everything." Andy's key verse that keeps him on track is I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:9

Lisa English was using methamphetamine for 24 years, the path of addiction brought her to a point where she had lost her family and everything else. By God's grace, on a strange drive across Kern County on the way to nowhere, she landed in a recovery home in Bakersfield. When she finished the first 30 days she began attending Celebration/Flood and has not missed many times since, that was over 18 months ago. Lisa is a student at Bakersfield College and is an Ag Ambassador and conducts tours of the campus as an Outreach Ambassador to fulfill her CalWorks requirement. She completed and internship in agriculture waste management and energy production this summer and is living with her family in an apartment in Oildale. Lisa's husband James also attends BC and is growing in his relaionship with Christ. James, Lisa and Jarred are faithful volunteers on Saturday nights, you will usually find Lisa on the Calvary Bible Bus enthusiastically picking up at the recovery homes downtown.

Tim Sheehan is now clean and sober for over 2 years. Tim can always be found at Flood driving and serving. Tim became homeless after a split from the mother of his children in 2000, drug addiction and an inablility to pull things together, homelessness plagued Tim for 6 years. Tim lived in the area around the corner of California and Stockdale Hwy. This allowed him to stay in close vicinity to his two boys. Tim was arrested and given a chance to work the Prop 36 requirements to stay out of jail. Ryan's Retreat and an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ sustained him. Tim found Flood (Celebration) in December 2006. We have been able to help Tim acquire his driver's license and birth certificate which assisted him in finding employment at Southwest Lanes. Flood also was able to assist Tim in finding housing upon his graduation from the Sober Living Environment. Tim loves the Lord and continues to persevere through the many challenges of life.