From Life in The Streets to the Wapato City Council
http://www.reviewindependent.com/articles/1503/1/From-Life-in-The-Streets-to-the-Wapato-City-Council/Page1.html
Larry Schoonover
I have fond memories of spending weekends on my grand-father's farm out on Evan's Road where my dad's family grew up. My grandfather had forty acres where he raised a delicious variety of apples and milked cows. Little did I know I would again return to the valley.
By Larry Schoonover
Published on 02/2/2009
My name is Refugio ‘Cuco” Roa, and I have lived Wapato most of my life. I was educated here and I continue to live here. As I was growing up, I became involved in gangs and drugs and alcohol. I lived a rough life here in the City of Wapato, I chose to hang around with the wrong crowd.
The police officers of Wapato and some of the community members witnessed the lifestyle that I chose to live. My fellow school mates and teachers looked at me as a person that would not have a successful life. This was because of how I dressed and looked during my teen age years.
As life went on, I was married and had two children. They are 23 and 20 now and they were educated here in Wapato, I came to a point in my life where I needed to take responsibility as a father. My first marriage didn't work out because we both continued to use drugs and alcohol.
I continued to support my children as I worked in an apple warehouse, Valley Fruit, for about fifteen years. There was still a void in my life, and I began to search for something that could help me. Someone introduced me to Jesus Christ and He made a change in my life.
I remarried and we are blessed with three beautiful children. As we continue to serve Him together, God has really blessed us in different ways. I currently serve as a Council member for the City of Wapato and my wife serves on the Planning Commission and is a teacher in the Wapato School District.
I currently work at Graham Packaging Company in Selah. We are members of the Wapato Lighthouse Church. I am active in the ministry in the Church and I also teach Bible Studies at the Wapato Jail, and in our Cell group. I am currently seeking to go into the Juvenile Detention to reach the youth that are there. I really have a desire to help people in the community and reach others outside of our community through my testimony. Where people thought that I was a failure, I can show them that there is hope, if they put God first in their life. Friends, family, and people in the community see me as a different person today. I encourage you to give God a chance!
Coming soon! A video interview with Cuco and Dora Roa.
As I was growing up, I became involved in gangs and drugs and alcohol. I lived a rough life here in the City of Wapato, I chose to hang around with the wrong crowd.
Refugio Cuco Roa
My name is Refugio ‘Cuco” Roa, and I have lived Wapato most of my life. I was educated here and I continue to live here. As I was growing up, I became involved in gangs and drugs and alcohol. I lived a rough life here in the City of Wapato, I chose to hang around with the wrong crowd.
The police officers of Wapato and some of the community members witnessed the lifestyle that I chose to live. My fellow school mates and teachers looked at me as a person that would not have a successful life. This was because of how I dressed and looked during my teen age years.
As life went on, I was married and had two children. They are 23 and 20 now and they were educated here in Wapato, I came to a point in my life where I needed to take responsibility as a father. My first marriage didn't work out because we both continued to use drugs and alcohol.
I continued to support my children as I worked in an apple warehouse, Valley Fruit, for about fifteen years. There was still a void in my life, and I began to search for something that could help me. Someone introduced me to Jesus Christ and He made a change in my life.
I remarried and we are blessed with three beautiful children. As we continue to serve Him together, God has really blessed us in different ways. I currently serve as a Council member for the City of Wapato and my wife serves on the Planning Commission and is a teacher in the Wapato School District.
I currently work at Graham Packaging Company in Selah. We are members of the Wapato Lighthouse Church. I am active in the ministry in the Church and I also teach Bible Studies at the Wapato Jail, and in our Cell group. I am currently seeking to go into the Juvenile Detention to reach the youth that are there. I really have a desire to help people in the community and reach others outside of our community through my testimony. Where people thought that I was a failure, I can show them that there is hope, if they put God first in their life. Friends, family, and people in the community see me as a different person today. I encourage you to give God a chance!
Coming soon! A video interview with Cuco and Dora Roa.