When I was 2 years old, I saw my brother's dad shoot my mother.  I grabbed my brother and took him to a closet to hide.  We had stayed at the hospital with my mother for about 3 months when she passed away.  At this time my brother and I were placed in a foster home.  Our foster dad abused us on a daily basis.  When I was in the 5th or 6th grade my foster parents adopted me and changed my name.  The abuse continued.  Not only from my parents, but also from the numerous other foster kids who were in and out of our home.  I moved out when I was 15.  By then I had had over 50 foster brothers!

In high school I joined the wrestling team.  I had found my talent.  I was a 4-year State Champion wrestler.  At the same time, I managed a bakery.  I had to make money because I was on my own.  I graduated from high school in 1983.  I received a scholarship to the Culinary School of Arts in San Francisco.  After I graduated from Culinary, I became the head dietitian for Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek, California.  It is then that I started drinking and using ‘meth.’  I was 19. 

I realized, when I began to drink, that I was tough and that I was good at defending myself, so instead of getting abused, I started to abuse!!  I was fighting every night in bars, getting arrested, and spending some time in jail.  At one point, I got so angry that I almost killed a guy in a fight after the bar had closed.  Because of this incident I was sentenced to 5 years in the Department of Corrections.  Upon my release, I continued to drink and use meth, which went hand-in-hand with the anger and the fighting.

I moved to Illinois with the thought that my life would improve.  However, I continued to use alcohol and meth.  I spent time in and out of the county jail and many rehabs, never finding the answer.  Finally, I was introduced to Addicts Victorious!  I started attending meetings and soon found that my desire for meth was dwindling but alcohol still remained. 

Later, I got myself into yet another jam due to alcohol and anger.  I was given the chance to go through the Addicts Victorious 5-Day Biblical Counseling Program.  I honestly did not think that this would work.  I figured that it would be just another rehab.  To my surprise, I found out differently!!  I now have been delivered from my anger and alcohol!!  I have absolutely no desire for these things! 

Through this program I have learned to love myself and others.  This was something that I had never known how to do.  Now that I have Jesus Christ in my life I feel so much better about myself and life in general!!  I plan to continue to attend the meetings and stay involved.  I will also never quit reading my Bible and praying every single day.  Without those two things I know in my heart that I would never make it. 

Jesus Christ has worked many miracles this week!  It almost feels like a dream!  This is all due to the fact that He worked through the Addicts Victorious staff in the 5-Day Biblical Counseling Program.  I would highly recommend that anyone with any kind of problem take advantage of this program.  Praise God; now I can start my new, peaceful life with the Lord! 

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