Once homeless Pomona residents marry at Garfield Park

Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.迷利倉Dec. 14--POMONA -- Garfield Park means a great deal to Cheyenne Chaco and Alex Cedeno.Both have been homeless, both have used drugs and both have spent some of their darkest moments at Garfield Park.On Saturday, the park became the scene of one of the brightest moments in Chaco's and Cedeno's lives when they married there."We felt that's were God brought us," Chaco said. During some of their most difficult days "that's were you would find us."While some people may focus on the presence of homeless people and those with substance abuse problems, the reality is the park in the 800 block of Holt Avenue is a beautiful place, Chaco said.Having the wedding ceremony there shows good things come out of Garfield Park, she said.Chaco, 18, became homeless when she was 15. She had a difficult relationship with her mother that led to her leaving home. At first, she left for a couple of days but the periods she was away from home became longer until she didn't return.For about three years, she was homeless, was involved in abusive relationships and used drugs.After much prayer, the day came when Chaco decided she wanted to turn her life around and return to her mother's home.At home she came into contact with Cedeno, 26, whom she had met some time ago.Cedeno has had a challenging life himself that includes involvement in gangs, drug use and brushes with the law, he said.With the help of people of faith and ministers he left all that was negative and was on the road to recovery. He had a period when he stra迷你倉ed but was able to find his way back, he said.Then Chaco entered his life.Although he had met Chaco three years ago, "I never really paid attention to her," Cedeno said.When he saw her again, she talked about changing her life and they began searching for employment together.Gradually "we were able to relate to each other," he said, and a relationship blossomed.But there came a moment when they both went back to drugs and Garfield Park.Chaco was the first to decide to go back home. She suspected she was pregnant.Cedeno later came to the conclusion he wanted a life free of drugs and sought help.Chaco and Cedeno are now drug free, expecting a child, healing and trying to assist others through religious ministries.The Rev. Eric Vasquez, senior pastor at Rock of Faith Church in Pomona, said Chaco and Cedeno, both residents of Pomona, have made changes in their lives.Each is working to prepare for the future through classes and by engaging in positive activities, Vasquez said."They are pursuing all they need to be whole people and God-centered," he said.Some of their problems were connected to their inability to deal with issues but they have now come to a point where "they have a desire to make things right," Vasquez said.The marriage in the park is to show "a living example and model of the transformation that can take place," Vazquez said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.) Visit the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.) at .dailybulletin.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉