Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

My name is Laverne. I am here to tell about my life and how Talitha Koum has changed my life for the better.

I was born in Regina Saskatchewan to an alcoholic mother. Because of her alcoholism, I was born pre-mature with bronchial pneumonia, spending the first year of my life in and out of hospital. I was finally put up for adoption to a family in Langley BC. Growing up always having that empty feeling inside, I struggled with attachment, pushing my parents away who were lovable and hardworking people. Struggling in school and getting into trouble, I left home at an early age. I was put back into the ministry's care and moved from foster home to foster home until they finally put me into independent living. Because of the emptiness I felt, I turned to drugs and alcohol at the young age of 13 smoking pot. Life seemed to go downhill from there. I was looking to fix myself in empty relationships trying to fill that void. In and out of trouble, I was deemed a misfit.

Throughout my teens I struggled with drugs and alcohol. I had times where I would clean up but that was short-lived. I had my first baby at the age of twenty-one, she is beautiful. I thought that she could keep me clean. Her dad and I split up, drugs were more important. Left alone abandoned and rejected again, I fell into relapse worse on heroin now. With no means of supporting my habit I turned to prostitution, stuck hard in a darker addiction. My life was going nowhere, I was now a menace to society. Trying again to fill that void I got involved again in a relationship that lasted 10 years, full of violence and drugs.

I had my second child, only to lose him at birth to the ministry. Trying to clean up once more but failing drastically, now addicted to crack. Violence had taken over in the relationship, a rude awakening of drugging and partying out of control. I said to myself something has to change, I found myself praying to God to help me, something drastic had to happen. It did. I got stabbed in the leg by my spouse, now seeing the light that made me want to leave that relationship looking for my place in the world.

I came to Talitha Koum through word of mouth. Surprised that they said yes to me, being accepted into the program. Probably the first time I ever felt accepted anywhere in my life. So full of fear and self will, I walked through the doors of Talitha Koum welcomed by my sisters with open arms. Finally I felt like I was home. Now the work begins. When I came to Talitha Koum, I was full of fear and resentment, packing anger and hate. It is here I'm learning to let go, learning to love myself, learning how to love others, doing the 12 steps, cleaning up the wreckage of my past. There are many gifts in Recovery one of my many is that I'm starting to work with a social worker with Starr as my advocate. We are in the middle of making plans for my children. I just started to get visits again.

This couldn't have happend on my own, the support of this very special house has made a huge impact on my life. I know what it is to feel true happiness without the need to use drugs or alcohol. There are so many opportunities that I am being presented with. I will hopefully be in my new job placement soon which I am very excited and thankful for. Something that would never happen to me otherwise. I'm getting a second chance at life here at Talitha Koum. My prayers were answered. I would like to take this time to thank all the staff and all my sisters for giving me the support I need. I have come to find so much more here a family I can call my own. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know a new freedom of being clean and sober, a new view on life, a newfound love for Jesus and most of all hope for a better future.

Thank you very much for letting me share my testimony.