Every so often, we encounter someone who makes a distinct impression on all of us here at the Mission - not for where they came from or what they’ve been through, but for the kind of person they are. Vincent is one such individual, and I am excited to share his story with you today.
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Vincent was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, alongside his three siblings. His childhood was challenging but manageable. Vincent’s mother and stepfather made enough money for the family to get by, but not enough for most of the “extra” things in life.

Money was just one obstacle for Vincent and his family. In the densely populated and sometimes dangerous streets of Brooklyn, you had to be alert.

“There were a lot of gangs, there was some violence,” says Vincent. “If you went to another neighborhood, you always had to watch your back. But it made you tough, living in Brooklyn. It kept you sharp everywhere you went.”

While navigating Brooklyn as a child, Vincent made the most of his free time. He loved art, music, and learning, and he would engross himself in whatever particular topic interested him at the time.

“I was always like that as a child,” says Vincent. “If I was interested in something I would read up on it. I would go to the library on my own. I was that kind of kid who would come home with a bunch of books, and the bigger kids would hit my books out of my hand.”

“As a child, I would play hooky and go to see the Museum of Natural History on my own,” says Vincent. “I would find a class and sneak in with them, like I was part of the class. I didn’t have the money to get in - I think it was $1.50 for a child to get in. But I would stay there all day and visit all the exhibits.”

As Vincent got older, he longed for adventure. He wanted to explore the world, to see firsthand the things he read about in books and saw in museums! That’s partially what drove him to join the service when he was just seventeen years old.

“It was tough, going through basic training,” says Vincent. “But I passed it. I made sharpshooter. I was good with all the equipment. Almost anything they threw at me, I learned quick.”

Over the following years, Vincent traveled all over the northeastern United States. He would end up in Puerto Rico, however, the birthplace of his father. That’s where he would live for the next twenty years.

“I fell in love, got married, and had a beautiful daughter,” says Vincent.

Vincent built a great career as a corrections officer in Puerto Rico, and life was good for a long time. After 15 years of marriage, however, things weren’t working out anymore. Vincent and his wife separated, and he moved back to the United States to reconnect with his mother and siblings (he stays in regular contact with his family in Puerto Rico, and they have visited him several times).

“I went back to New York, but I found that everyone had moved to Forida,” says Vincent. “So I rented a car and drove down to Florida to find them.”

Vincent found his family and purchased a home in Florida. He worked with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then for a timeshare company, where he was one of the top salesmen. Stability was not to last, however.

One day, Vincent had a serious stroke. “I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I guess my health caught up to me,” he says. Vincent was hospitalized and needed physical therapy. His medical bills quickly drained his savings. With time, Vincent recovered physically. His mental wellbeing was another story.

“I would forget things,” says Vincent. “I would drop things. When I was cooking, I would accidentally leave the stove on. Physically I felt okay, but I was suffering a lot. I started to get anxiety attacks, which frightened me. I couldn’t control it and I didn’t understand what was happening to me.”

Things got worse when Vincent’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. She got extremely sick and was hospitalized herself. She was eventually placed in home hospice, far too ill to care for herself. With no offer of help from his siblings, Vincent stepped up. He left his sales job, sold his home, and went to go care for his mother full-time.

“It was only right,” says Vincent. “She’s my mom, and she was in a lot of pain. I would cook for her and wash her and everything.”

“One day I was out on the porch smoking,” says Vincent. “All of a sudden, I heard, ‘Vince…’ It was my mom calling me. I went to her room. I saw my mom…her eyes were all glassy. I grabbed her hand and just started stroking her hand. I said, ‘It’s Vince, mom. I’m here.’” Minutes later she passed away.

“I didn’t cry,” says Vincent. “I hadn’t cried in years. That’s one thing I guess about my stroke – some part of my brain lost emotions. I suffered a lot inside, you know…that’s my mom. But I couldn’t get a tear out.”

“I did feel like I completed my duties as a son,” says Vincent. “I was there with her, every day, like she wanted. I was happy for that.”

Vincent’s siblings were not happy, however. They said he should have called them earlier, and Vincent was upset that he had been left to care for their mother alone for so long. This caused a rift in the family and made Vincent want to escape Florida.

At this time, Vincent had almost nothing left. He had no home and no job – all his time and energy had gone towards caring for his mother and his own health in the wake of his stroke. He had a small income from social security, but it wasn’t enough to cover all his living expenses.

“I said to myself, ‘Vince, you got to get back to work!’”

Vincent began job-hunting online. That’s where he discovered the sugar beet harvest in North Dakota. He jumped into his Honda and began the 1800-mile trip. Along the way, he camped out and slept at rest stops.

When he arrived in Grand Forks, Vincent considered sleeping in his car. Thankfully, he found a spot at the Mission instead.

“At the Mission, they treat me well,” says Vincent. “They’ve given me a roof over my head, they’ve given me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everyone has treated me with decency and respect.”

Vincent quickly gained a reputation around the Mission for being extraordinarily helpful to staff and clients. He is always the first to volunteer for chores and jobs around the building. We asked him what compels him to offer so much help.

‍“Because everyone has helped me!” he replies with a smile. “How kind the people are around me! ‘Vincent, are you okay?’ ‘Vincent, how are you doing?’ I see the kindness and I know…I need to give that back. So anytime someone says ‘let’s do something’ I say, ‘Let’s go for it! Front of the line, here’s Vince!’”

Vincent is working with the Mission’s advocacy team and supporting agencies to take care of his health issues and create a housing plan. He wants to get his own place soon (he’s especially looking forward to cooking his own meals). First though, he has a few financial obstacles to overcome. He still has a bill to pay from his time in Florida. On top of that, his car was vandalized and needs to be repaired before it can drive again.

“I have to be frugal and save my money from [social security],” says Vincent. “I think I can build up enough to fix my car and drive again.”

Once his car is fixed, Vincent plans to save more and get an apartment in the area. “I see Grand Forks as a home [now],” he says. “I think I want to make a go of it.”

“I found a beautiful church that I’m going to now,” Vincent says. “My [faith] is very important to me. I feel like everything in my life, since I was a child to being here now…God has his hand on me, keeping me straight, keeping me going. It’s with the grace of God that I’m here…that I’m alive. I feel that more than ever, and I’ve embraced Christianity more than ever.”

“I can’t wait until Sunday when I can go to church,” says Vincent. “I feel so happy when I pray and praise God. When I go to bed, when I wake up, when I’m doing my chores at the Mission, I praise God. I thank the people at the Mission for having me and taking care of me, and the doctors who have treated me here… All I’ve been met with in North Dakota are wonderful people everywhere. I feel like a new person, and I’m happy to be here.”

It’s heartwarming to see how positive, happy, and blessed Vincent feels today – all because of the kindness shown to him during his time in Grand Forks.

“Now I’m spreading the joy,” Vincent says. “What I feel in my heart, the happiness…I’m spreading that now.”

“When the doctors said I couldn’t drive all the way from Florida to North Dakota, I drove,” says Vincent. “And God was my copilot. I love it here. I love the people, and I love God, and I’m happy. It’s been a long time since I felt this way.”

Vincent may not yet have a home, a working vehicle, or perfect health. He does have two things, however: hope and a plan. That’s a powerful combination.

As a supporter of the Mission, thank you for giving Vincent the chance to recover his life. He is a person who has given perhaps more than he had to give. Now, because of you, he has what he needs to care for himself.‍‍