Loaves & Fishes 27

Testimony of
Derrick K. Osorio
was born into a strict Catholic
I family in the fast-paced city
that never sleeps (NYC). I had
a loving mother, who had high
aspirations of my becoming a
priest, but that was not in my
plans. More importantly, it was
not in God’s plans. I actually
wanted to be a doctor, though
unfortunately that only lasted
until I was about ten years old. I
had already started gambling at
age eight.
As I grew older, gambling
became an obsession. I began
drinking and eventually turned
to drugs. I had fathered two
beautiful children by age sixteen.
A child raising children, I eventually
abandoned them and their
mother. I had a second family at
age twenty-five. We had three
more fantastic children, but
twelve years later I walked out
on their mother as well. This
time, my two girls came with me.
A year later, I was accused of
a crime and found myself in a
state prison for the first time
in my life. I was all alone, doing
real time! I lost everything—my
daughters, my freedom, my business,
even my fiancée. I hit rock
bottom.
While in prison, I faithfully
attended the Catholic services.
In the summer of 2003, I walked
into the church as usual, and the
moment I stepped in and looked
up at the cross, a teardrop ran
down my face. I quickly wiped
it away and left. This happened
every time I went to church for
several months, until one night,
the tears just kept on coming. I
looked up toward heaven and
prayed, “Lord, I know you’re
trying to tell me something, but I
just don’t know what it is. Please
show me, God.”
The next night, while sitting
in my cell feeling sorry for myself,
my entire life flashed before
I was amazed at the
treasures stored in that
dusty old book.
Loaves & Fishes • Issue 27 | 21