We Are
180 Degrees

My name is Ana Elizabeth Cruz I was born in Carolina PR, of Dominican parents. I can remember at the age of 4 I lived with my aunt who also had 5 children at the time but very little discipline. My biological mother visited us on special occasions. I never questioned why I lived with my aunt and uncle. Often, I fought a lot at school to the point that the children no longer wanted to be around me. I got used to not having many friends. When I was 12 years old, my brother and I went to live with my mother. It was there that I learned to comb my hair, how to eat properly at a table, how to sit properly in a chair, etc. She gave us structure and discipline. At the age of 14, I moved with my father in California I experienced rejection and criticism. I felt unwelcomed and everything I did was bad. I experienced loneliness and felt hurt when I saw my step-siblings being more loved than me. At the age of 18, I decided to leave home and thought of going back to live with my mother. That's where I met a young man and began a lifestyle of alcohol and drug use. My life went from bad to worse. Things progressed to the point that I slept and lived on the streets. I was in and out of prison. At the age of 24, I met my daughter’s father. But once again, I lost everything. I fell very deep into drugs and pretty soon I abandoned my daughter. The addiction, shame, and guilt were stronger than me. Therefore, I decided to never return. I considered myself a bad mother. At this point, I was convinced that I was born to live on the streets. I had no hope. At 33 years old, I visited a church for the first time, but nothing changed in my life. I continued my life in the darkness of drugs. At the age of 39, I visited a church once more and there was Christ waiting for me, telling me that he forgave me of all the bad things I had done and that he loved me. It was the best thing that had happened to me. The love of God captivated me. Here was someone who could love me so much even after everything I had done. I fell in love with Christ. I fell in love with the Church. I fell in love with everything that had to do with God. My life was transformed. I started working and soon was promoted from crew member to lead, to manager, to assistant manager, to store manager. In the Church, I met my pastor, Rev. Ivette Lopez. She became a mother, my counselor, and my teacher. She loved me like a daughter and did not reject me. She became the mother that I always longed to have. I came to understand that my life has a purpose in Christ. But I needed to surrender my will to Him. I let myself be guided by the advice of my Pastor. I began to look for God at the altar, developing a lifestyle of prayer. One day my pastor connected me to Pastors Ada and Pablo Melecio and Truth Heals Ministry. I did not believe I was capable or ready to minister. But I was obedient. I began ministering to 2 people, leading them along the healing journey. Every year the ministry grew. Today, God has expanded the program to different churches. Now, not only do we minister through this program, but we are also rescuing souls from the streets and prisons, helping them find work, food, shelter, health, and stability. I found my purpose in Christ and continue to work towards helping others to do the same.