Testimonials: Erin 2008

Hi, my name is Erin . I’m 21 years old. I was born in Berwyn, Ill but spent most of my life in Rockport, TX. I didn’t have what you call a normal childhood. I was physically, mentally and sexually abused as a child. All I have ever known and was around at the time was alcohol and drugs. Religion background, atheist. 

At age 17 I became a legal adult in Texas and I went buck wild. I was busy boozing and partying and I became a fulltime alcoholic and drug addict who was a high school drop out. At age 18 I got married to a great man and shortly after got pregnant. I had a beautiful baby girl named Anastasia at the age of 19. Shortly after having her I started drinking again and pill popping. The first year and half of it I was in and out of treatment facilities. But every time I got out I went right back to the drugs and alcohol, getting worse and worse every time.  I stopped but would go back. In that year I ended up losing my marriage and my daughter. I was 21 years old with nothing. I felt lonely and lost. So, I just kept on boozing and partying. In and out of hospitals for overdosing. I had four seizures that year from overdoses. But of course, my ex-husband gave me another chance to be with Anastasia, but for the second time in a row I chose drugs and alcohol over her. So I just said to myself, oh well, and to cover all of my pain and hurt I continued to do what I thought I did best, drink, and do drugs. Jumping from place to place, not caring if I lived or died. 

Well, I got tired of not knowing what my life was going to be like in the future, so I had a friend drive me to the Columbus Rescue Mission, and I met a lot of great people. But there was one person in particular that was very unique and very smart. His name was Chaplain Ted. He showed me that all I was missing was God in my life. Well one night Beth read a verse from Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” As soon as I heard that, I started to cry, not really understanding why I was, but the next day Oct 1, 2008 at 3:25 pm I told Chaplain Ted and Ashley and God that I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and wanted Jesus to be in my life. 

Well, not being cautious, I allowed Satan’s words to corrupt my mind and left the Mission and lost sight of who I was and who God was. Now I’m back full force, ready to live, and live god’s way. The only place I seemed to get any enjoyment and security was at the mission. I thought the wild and crazy life was it, but it’s not all that some people tell me it’s supposed to be like. At least I got back on track before it‘s to late. I got to talk to my daughter and she still calls me Mommy and tells me she loves me. I’m finally going to get to see my little girl. First time in a long time, I’m a sober Mommy. That’s what God does in a person’s life, miracles, and blessings. Thanks to God I don’t ever have to go back to my lifestyle again. Worship isn’t what we get from God, but what we give to him. It’s not what we take away, but what we leave behind. I am not losing my daughter again. I will not allow her to grow up knowing her Mom was a worthless addict that never amounted to anything, a failure as a Mother. Satan will not get that satisfaction. I’m God’s child now.

 

Romans 5:8 But God showed his love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this, it is a gift from God.