Man Learns To Love, Trust Through Rescue Mission's Mentor Program

TUSTIN, CA — He was the first face many saw at Orange County Rescue Mission. Village of Hope’s volunteer resident lead for Intake, Ricky Thurman, would meet with Orange County's homeless right off the street as they arrived at Village of Hope in search of a better life.

After some pointed questions: Are the new arrivals willing to change? What's more, are they ready? Or would another resource serve them better? Perhaps no one was more qualified to gather that important information than Thurman.

"Ricky and his team have to listen and be considerate and caring when people arrive at Village of Hope," Dino Quesada, Thurman's mentor, says.

Thurman didn't take his job lightly. The stress, needing to change gears quickly, and to know how to handle all sorts of people, was a huge responsibility. He leaned on his mentor, one of the only positive male role models he had at that time, to get through it.

Quesada knew a thing or two about hard work and redemption. The mutually beneficial mentor/mentee program brought both men to a place of peace and understanding that neither expected.

He first met Thurman when he was newly released from prison. Thurman had spent over 15 years behind bars for various prison terms, and was attempting to turn his life around with the help of Orange County Rescue Mission.

With personal experience from his brother's incarceration, Quesada knew he could help offer advice from a personal level.

But it was a long road to get there.

In his early years, before he found the Orange County Rescue Mission and Village of Hope, Thurman leaned on all the wrong things. He had no faith and "ran with a skinhead gang for 20 years."

When he first went to prison, his wife (then girlfriend) was living with her mother. Thurman entered the prison system at "full throttle, staying with the gang as a survival mechanism," he says. "I had to keep myself safe. I had to be top dog to make sure I didn't get eaten in there."

After over ten years in prison, Thurman hit rock bottom. His wife left him, and he was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer.

"I thought I would die in prison," he said.

Instead, he found his faith.

"I gave up the gang, found God, and let Him take control of my life," Thurman said. After prison, he was guided to the Orange County Rescue Mission's Village of Hope.

Still, he dragged his feet. "It was hard. I wanted to leave at first," he said.
Instead of leaving, he gave in and relinquished control.

He took the volunteer job they offered him working in the Village of Hope warehouse.
With hard work, he was promoted quickly. He was offered lead in intake after just four months and was given the opportunity to work with a mentor.

Dino Quesada might have been the only mentor for Thurman. Leaning on what he knew from his brother's experiences in the prison system, they spoke the same language, though Thurman says their first meetings were "intimidating."

"I didn't trust anyone, particularly other men, after being in prison most of my life," Thurman said. But Quesada provided guidance. "Especially when I felt overwhelmed."

Work was hard. Negative feedback was crushing. But then, his mentor reminded him: "Managers in the outside world can be tough, too, but they have the experience to offer. They usually have good reasons for the things they do if you're willing to learn."

Quesada shared his coping skills. He taught Thurman how to handle people who rubbed him the wrong way. As manager of Woodward's Ace Hardware and member of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Tustin, he is constantly in tune with the public.

"I have 12 employees and customers, and I still have to treat all of them with respect!" Quesada would advise him. "Work is tough. Keeping others happy helps keep you happy."

Something clicked.

Through the mentorship program, and his case manager at Village of Hope, Thurman has learned how to break down the walls that prison put up.

"They want what's best for me, and that helps me learn how to trust," he says.

Quesada recognized that Thurman was willing to do anything to turn his life around. For over a year, the two men have met at least an hour a week. They've only missed one meeting in all of that time. Now, Thurman is transitioning out of Village of Hope and into a home of his own.

"Ricky focused on his work at the Orange County Rescue Mission, as well as his role there," Quesada said.

In June, Thurman was hired by Glidewell as a maintenance technician.
With the aid of the mentor program, he has grown to accept and thrive on responsibility.

Now, his mentor is also his friend.

"Orange County Rescue Mission changed my life," Thurman said. "If I hadn't come here, I'd be dead or back in prison."

Quesada and Thurman now have a relationship built on mutual trust and respect. They are friends, and as such, plan on maintaining their relationship beyond the mentor program.

Quesada looks forward to continuing work as a mentor.

"I want Ricky and his wife over to my house for dinner, so they can relax and know that we are still here, still supporting them."