God is doing amazing things in MUC and and in the lives of people who worship here.  Each week, one story will be presented  in the bulletin—a testimony from someone likely sitting not too far from you in church today.  Not everyone hears the spoken testimonies shared at the front of the church or in small groups.  The plan is to write down as many as possible to share with as many as people as possible. The stories, each written as told to Cathie Jeffery, are about how God has brought people to MUC and/or has been active in their lives. No two stories are alike. All are powerful. Some dramatic others quietly reassuring. We pray that we communicate what God wishes to share with you. Thanks to those who have risked by allowing their stories to be printed here and thanks to God.   Let us know if you have a story to share.

Monik

Monik, comes from a French Canadian, Roman Catholic background.  Her parents
attended church religiously every Sunday and prayer was frequent. But it did not seem to Monik that it held much meaning - more reciting and memory work.

When her son was born in 1988, she was diagnosed with MS.  She had lost sight, lost the use of her left side. She couldn't see and couldn't hold things.  It was clearly the end of an era.  Her career as an RN was finished.
 
Over the next 8 years, she would regain some movement, but retain numbness. By 1996 she had to be in a wheelchair.    She had no energy, napped every few hours - the big thing with MS is fatigue.  

Then she lost two moms in 2003 two weeks apart.    It was a difficult time. Friends invited her to MUC.  It certainly didn't seem like a good idea. God clearly was not on her side.  Monik was most upset with God.  She had experienced a lot of loss in a short time.  But that year she did start coming a few times, with the aid of a walker- you could count on one hand the number of visits that first year.

In the fall of 2004 she wasn't well emotionally.  Someone suggested the Alpha course. She thought she'd give it a try.    The retreat was what changed her life.  "It was the wisest decision I've ever made in my life", she says.

She saw the Bibles on display.  (She had been told as a child that she was not allowed to read the Bible. She didn't have enough knowledge. Only the priest could read it.)   She decided that weekend to buy one.  After lunch, during quiet time, in her room, with the Bible in front of her,"I debated whether I should open it. I felt I needed Mom's approval.  I still don't know how to describe it but a warm, peaceful, reassuring feeling overwhelmed me. I started to cry."  I hadn't cried in a long time."   She went back to
the Alpha group and accepted Jesus in her life and "I've never looked back".

"Since then, I have felt different - more at peace, accepting and more loving wife and mother."

"I must thank the members of my group at Alpha".  I wouldn't be where I am without them. I saw the joy every Sunday. I knew I wanted what they had.  I had never known I could talk to God.  I never knew Him even though I grew up in a very religious family.  I just remember confession, and you had to recite your prayers perfectly."  Now I know I can talk to Him like my best friend!

She has been able to switch from her walker to a cane.  Her journey with M.S. and anger has become a journey with M.S. and God.   "Most importantly, now I know I am not alone, I am no longer lonely and know such joy and peace.!"   

Since this interview,  Monik attended a healing service at MUC and regained feeling in her left hand.  God is good!

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He was raised a Baptist. So he knew God.   “And I’m reminded that God has been so patient with me,”  he adds. "I used to live life knowing God was there and Jesus died for my sins.  Although, God was quite a party pooper, I knew too that He would forgive me as long as I asked – I knew even if I asked moments before my death, I would get into Heaven."  That was how Eldon used to see things.The trouble is, he points out,  you never know when you will see that moment!! "I have done some pretty foolish, reckless things in my life and I wouldn’t have seen my death coming! " His parents owned a dealership in New Brunswick. He had access to every kind of vehicle you could think of and drove them all – and  drove them all fast!  “By the Grace of God I am still here.  I surely tested fate, “ Eldon notes.And Eldon knows that God has always “cushioned” his hurt – he was never severely hurt even as he snubbed his nose at Him.  At university, he began to drink to excess – to the point that his best friend commented.  Eldon observes now that “she had enough guts to say you’re drinking too much and I’m worried about you.” Eldon was stopped in his tracks. “Maybe I am” he thought. That planted the seed.  He’d always had his Bible with him.  He’d read it at times when things weren’t great, but then things would get good again and it would be set aside.Not long after his first job, he was enticed to Ottawa to work for Nortel in 1997. He met Karen in 1999, almost 2 years to the date of arriving in Ottawa in September.  It was a blind date and they hit it off.  The relationship grew and they began to talk about the future, their beliefs, whether they wanted children, and how the children would be raised. Both had a church upbringing -- Karen was raised in the United Church --and wanted their kids to attend Sunday School too. They asked themselves, “ What are we doing for ourselves if that’s what we want for our kids. Why not us?”  They were introduced to MUC when a niece and nephew were baptized at MUC.  In 2000 they began to attend MUC. They took their first bible study together –  “The Idiot’s Guide to the Bible”, got to know the Bible and "things started to click". Next, they took the Experiencing God course and it too was amazing!  They bought a house together. But in 2002,  the tech boom was bust and Eldon was laid off in June,  mere months before his September wedding to Karen. The real challenging faith journey began.  “Here we are, God”  they said.  “We’ll trust in You.”  Money was a struggle. Then the severance pay ran out. Their lifestyle changed dramatically.  They had thought they couldn’t survive on less already. Now they would have to. But somehow they never missed a payment. So many times bills were coming due. It looked desperate. But God never failed them, Eldon remembers. “Sometimes only the day before a payment was due, money would appear or a cheque would arrive --almost for the exact amount!"  Then Karen became pregnant. Work wasn't happening. It looked like they'd have to sell their home. And if that wasn't enough, they found out baby William was developing complications in utero -- his chances of survival weren't good.  William's condition was so critical that when he was born he was put into a coma. But he could hear Karen and Eldon, he recognized their voices. His monitor showed his quickened heartbeat when they were talking to him. William had responded when he was still inside Karen too. It was difficult going to appointments wondering if God would answer their prayers for William's healing. Yet, says Eldon  “ with each blow, our faith continued to grow”.  Financially, it got to the point they had to turn to the food bank and  the church for help. Anonymous gifts helped too. They couldn't find a buyer for their house. Then, Karen was rushed to hospital for a C-section, December 29,2003.  Finally, someone looked at their house Jan. 5^th.  On the 13^th,  they signed an offer of sale for closing in two weeks!About 30 minutes later, the hospital called Eldon to come quickly.  After the shock of arriving at an empty hospital room, he found his wife and son. William had passed away.  Eldon cries as he remembers that was the only time he got to hold his son. They spent an hour or so holding him, talking, saying goodbye. And so it was that in a matter of a few weeks, they buried their baby son, packed up their home and moved out. Where would they live, while they mourned and healed?   God had a plan. Someone in MUC found them a house-sitting opportunity for three months.

Eventually,  Eldon landed two job interviews – both went well.  He prayed for guidance. One job was very attractive, but somehow he could never reconnect with the people there – calls went unanswered.   He walked in to the 2^nd place and was offered a job on the spot!  And the faith lesson?  “God has things lined up. We don’t stress out so much now,”  he says.  Each time their faith would grow and then a crushing blow.  Faith would rebound and another blow.   Somewhere in all this -- Eldon says it wasn’t one dramatic moment  -- they gave their life to God.  And God is good. Karen and Eldon are expecting another child. The ultrasound shows a healthy baby.  Karen and Eldon also know that their marriage survived all the pain and loss, when only one of such heartbreaks can end a marriage, because of their closeness to God. “Stuff is going to happen,” says Eldon. "But we came closer to each other and closer to God.”   

Heather

A new Christian faces birth, death, a gravely ill child, job loss and more all in the span of 18 months, and  is still singing God’s praises – Talk about a crash course in Christianity!    That’s Heather’s faith story.

She was baptised in the United Church but wasn’t really raised in the church. Her mother attended when she was young.  When her son Evan was 3, she tried to search out a church but none seemed right and she felt lost.  Once partnered with husband Gordon,  she looked into it more and decided the best ‘fit’ was with the United Church – but she was still hesitant and nervous.   Heather’s mom became seriously ill three and a half years ago.  Although  praying hard, Heather felt it was the wrong time to find a church – she would be searching for the wrong reason – only when she needed something from God.   As time went on, though,  it still came up as a ‘must do’.   In late summer of  2003, Gordon and Heather agreed – they must find a church. A sister-in-law felt they’d feel welcome at MUC.   Funnily enough, she was on the internet, searching at random and came across the MUC site.  And so, in September, ’03,  they gave MUC a try. They immediately felt comfortable and welcome – and the kids love the contemporary music.  Heather truly concluded that it was God’s will that they find MUC at that time.  MUC folk made them feel part of the church family right away.  Many months later, they felt ready to seek out others and found it not hard at all. They started by sticking around at coffee time – even though they felt a bit at a loss, not being familiar with God’s word.   The next logical step was taking Alpha together which they did in January, 04 – as a threesome – Gord, Heather and yet-to-arrive Carolynn – MUC’s first ‘Alpha baby’.   “After she was born, God kept her calm through the remaining weeks of Alpha so Gord and I could finish the course,” Heather says. 

They had always wanted Evan, their oldest, baptised.  After Alpha, it made sense to take that step.  Evan’s grandmother had wanted for years to see that happen. What a thrill for Heather’s mom, as ill as she was, to sit in MUC and see all three Kelman kids baptised!    Not long after, Heather’s mom passed away.  It was a very difficult time last Christmas.   Heather was really depressed – detached from her family, and missing her Mom so much.  God had a little surprise for her, though.  The MUC children prepared a song for Christmas to sing in the service.   The opening song was one of her mother’s favorites.  “I knew that God and my mother were here in MUC that day,”  Heather recalls.

There have been so many ups and downs – financially and emotionally. During this time, Gordon lost his full time job in museum work. While he job hunts, he’s working part time and training in desktop publishing. Heather has found good home care for Carolynn at the home of a fellow MUC member and returned to work.   That was depressing too, her first day back. But she prayed and asked God to hold her up.  Soon, she found herself feeling such peace and confidence that first day.  It was less hectic than usual and fewer babies in her care ‘made strange’.  Next,  Heather found her way to singing in the band.  To save on gas, she would stay and listen to the band practicing while Evan took part in youth activities each Wednesday downstairs. Band members invited her to join in.  Laughingly declining at first, eventually she took the plunge, having always loved music.  Music has always been significant to Heather. When baby Carolynn took very ill this spring, and wasn’t responding to hospitalization and treatment,  music – including the band’s CD, brought great comfort at night to keep Heather calm and feeling better beside her daughter’s hospital crib.   She experienced the power of prayer and church family support, too through Carolynn’s illness. One Sunday,  Heather came to church, very discouraged.  After service, a spontaneous prayer group formed and prayed hard for healing for Carolynn.  Two church members took the other kids home and Heather headed back to hospital – to find that, after many days, Carolynn had just been taken off oxygen and finally able to breath on her own!

Heather believes that her mother’s illness was God’s way of finding her family a home to prepare them and support them through their loss and grief.    And to realize her mother’s wish – which they did when they were confirmed and joined MUC this year!

Welcome to MUC,  Heather and family!

Dorian

“It’s never too late,” and “I feel such peace”, says 80-year-old Dorian, who just started regularly attending church (MUC) when she was 78.   It’s a gentle story, much like Dorian, and “not very dramatic”, she is quick to point out – a story of gradual change and coming to appreciate the incredible power of prayer.She remembered Manotick United from the years she used to drop her mother off for services and return later. She didn’t attend.  Her husband being Catholic, it seemed the right thing to do. ( Her mother, Edna Mayhew  was a long-time member and was married a 2^nd time by Reverend Hewlett.)   Oh, how Dorian wishes her mother was here now that Dorian has this new faith and peace.  They could have such great discussions.Returning to Dorian’s story, she felt emptiness and had become very fearful as she got older and time began to pass so fast.  She “snuck in” the southwest door just as the service started – the contemporary service that is -- and quietly slipped into one of the pews. “For a month,” she remembers, “I cried all the way through the service.”  It was a gradual process “but very real” she hastens to add, “there’s new peace, I’m not as fearful, and I feel accepted here by others.”  That enabled Dorian to seek out others, as she began to appreciate that she needed to study.  Soon, she was drawn to the 10:00 a.m. Monday morning bible study.  She feels how close the group has become.   And she repeats again how peaceful she feels now that she has become a Christian and knows God.  “And it’s never too late to find your purpose in life too,” she adds. “I pray differently now,” Dorian says.  I used to feel I was begging. Now I am full of praise. I know that God will answer and will provide, not what I want, but what I need.”   Even more amazing, she has seen time and again, that God provides more than she asked for, more than she could even have imagined!   Prayer is now a daily practice.   Dorian has just finished reading “The Cross and the Switchblade” about the young New York City gang member who became a Christian and later a Minister.   She gained a lot from reading the book and appreciating how one comes to have the Holy Spirit inside, “but you have to be thankful and work at it”, she adds. Dorian prays a lot -- even in the car.  She prays for a parking spot at church. “And there’s always been one!”  She also knows that it may take a while for God to answer, “but it’s always better than I could imagine!”Dorian has a small example to share of answers to prayer.  She was struggling, up on a chair attempting to change a light bulb on the verandah.  She wanted so much to do it herself, and not to bother her son.  She tried and tried to get that darn bulb in but it wouldn’t go and she was getting so frustrated.  She decided she would ask God for help – it was so important that she be able to do things herself, to be useful.  So she prayed, and that bulb went in “just like that”.  Dorian was amazed Her heartfelt need was met immediately. 

Another big moment for Dorian took place one Sunday when, half blind in one eye due to a failed cataract operation, she sat in church with her 13-year-old granddaughter, Stevi.  Rev. Shawn asked if anyone had a prayer request. Stevi lost no time in putting her hand up and asked for prayer that her grandmother would be able to see better.   After another operation, Dorian has better sight in that eye, and such pride in a young girl who spoke right up.   

Welcome Dorian to MUC.

Pam

"Just don't mention the 'G' word."   That's what Pam said to her  good friend, Martie, a Christian.  Pam had always strongly resisted the Christian message. When she was a teenager, her mom became a Christian but unfortunately that was a negative experience for Pam.    Pam organized every detail of her life.  She and her husband had produced their three children right on schedule. Her youngest was 10 and with her 42nd birthday on the near horizon,  Pam's thoughts were focussed on family life and on the future joys of "Freedom 55".   Small wonder she was shocked   to find she was pregnant. Terminating the pregnancy was not an option.  But the realization she was going back to the world of diapers and sleep-interrupted nights sent Pam into an emotional tailspin!. Pam's careful plans seemed to mocker her and her despair seemed bottomless. "Another baby? At my age?  This will totally change our family dynamics," she cried to her friend.  "How am I going to do this again?" she asked her friend?   God gave Martie the courage to mention the 'G' word.   "You could try giving it all to Jesus,"  she said.  "I've hit bottom,"  Pam thought. "I'll try anything."  Then and there, Pam and Martie prayed the Salvation prayer together.Pam soon realized that God gave her better support than 100 carefully laid plans. Along with her husband's steady love and support, Pam began to see the way ahead. By the time the baby was born, he was very much wanted and deeply loved.  Pam's Christian life became another unexpected joy too. She started Bible studies and Christian reading. But it seemed after a while to be more of an intellectual exercise than an infilling of her heart.  Something was missing. Martie encouraged her to join a church. But that was a huge problem. Pam suffered from panic disorder. For 25 years, being with more than a handful of people in an audience was very uncomfortable for her.  How on earth could she go to church? She longed to deepen her relationship with God and knew she needed the support and encouragement of a church family.God was ready to do another might work in Pam. Pam sensed His strong urgings to go to Church.  Because her mother, sister and friend  attended MUC, it seemed a logical choice. But for various reasons, they couldn't go with her on the day she decided to attend. "God will come with me," she decided. On September 7, 2003, Pam -- and God -- came to MUC.  Marilyn Freitag and Nancy Gordon greeted her as if to their own homes.  Feeling very welcome,  Pam settled in to try to enjoy the service. For the first time in 25 years, Pam had no panic attack.   Was it a fluke?   Hardly!  Within one year,  Pam took part in 9 small group bible studies, with three congregations.  She felt such joy! Now, she could travel comfortably with her family and their range of activities expanded.  Then Pam took on an extra load at church -- teaching Sunday School each week, taking the  Bethel course, leading Alpha groups, and still taking part in three small groups.She was so busy, she didn't see it coming -- the depression hit her hard in early December, 04, overextended as she was.  She didn't feel very festive last Christmas. She knew she should attend Christmas Eve service.  She didn't feel much like going. But she did.  And the minute she walked in  -- " a minor miracle" -- the depression lifted and she was filled with the joy of before, but magnified and which continued growing through the service. By the end of it, she felt like she was floating on air!   Again, she thought it must be a fluke. The depression would return tomorrow... But it didn't. She celebrated on Christmas Day!Today, months later,  Pam defines her faith as being at her core -- defining who she is now, and  enjoying with Jesus "a  reciprocal, loving relationship". She says, "I believe God is so patient. It got to the point where nothing worked.  I was so resistant to Him.  An unexpected pregnancy, late in life, was His way of getting my attention. He had already given me a wonderful husband, loving family and great friends. Then, building on their support, God cured my panic disorder. All of this was God at work." 

Praise God!   And welcome to MUC,  Pam and young David!

It happened one Sunday morning.  They had served in churches, Neil as minister and Lise as spiritual director for many years.  Officially, Neil was retired but that didn’t mean their call to serve and worship was any less. But where did God want them to worship and serve next?   They had moved around a lot, even changed provinces.   The signals were not clear where they were to serve next.    That is when it happened. That Sunday morning, as they had done so often before, they were getting ready for church.  “We had been praying and asking the Lord to direct us to a church where He would want us to worship and serve Him”. That morning, Lise had a strong sense of God speaking. He simply said “Manotick”.   They had been at Manotick United Church before, those times that Neil had preached.  Lise shared this word from God with Neil. Neil was delighted and readily agreed.  

So that morning, in early fall, 2004, they arrived, just after service began, to hear the band and congregation singing.  They had heard it before, but somehow this time it was just that much more vibrant and welcoming.  They were met by Monica and a terrific hug!   The tears began to flow – they felt they were home!  

It brings her to think of scripture:  Romans 12:46.  We have many parts in the one body...So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace God has given us”. Just months later, Neil and Lise have been quick to share their gifts. Lise says, “What a wonderful idea to have a prayer group pray before each service. You don’t see that often.” As one who puts a high priority on prayer, Lise has quietly become a welcome and gentle addition to the prayer group. Neil has been able to reach out to others in the church community as voluntary associate minister, and been blessed in turn with the opportunity for the first time to join a Mens’ Ministry group.    Soon after their arrival, Neil and Lise attended a new members information night.  While watching Rev. Shawn's presentation on MUC's mission and vision, she really felt the Holy Spirit that night. Some people shared their deep faith. Lise was very moved and very happy.  "I know it was the Holy Spirit who moved me (literally) to ask about becoming a member.  I talked to Neil and he encouraged me so I did. I signed the papers and received my membership card.  Now I knew I was home -- feelings of peace and joy just overwhelmed me. On the way home, I said to Neil, " did I really do what I think I did??   That's not like me to jump into anything. I've never done that in my life! I always pray first about major decisions. But this time I felt pushed by God to sign the membership card.  Looking back, I know I had prayed whether to go to the information meeting and for God's guidance and direction. Well, He sure did do that!".Lise adds now that the little membership card is very precious to her -- it reminds her of that evening's experience of God, and because of the MUC mission written on it.       

God is good!   Welcome Lise and Neil

Hell and back,
Saturday, March 26, 2005
By Nelly Elayoubi, Ottawa Sun
Nelly Elayoubi tells how one teen's road to redemption was blocked by a morass of booze, drugs, prostitution

Jessica needs to get high. Jessica needs drugs. Jessica needs cash.

She'll get her cash by hooking on the downtown streets of Ottawa.

She is only 16.
---
"I was always high. If I wasn't high, I was looking for drugs, because when you're not high, you're sick," Jessica says, sitting on a plush leather couch, her knees tucked to her chest.

Looking at Jessica, now 17, you might think she's like any other teen. She's wearing jeans with sneakers, a three-quarter sleeve cotton shirt with a few silver rings on her fingers. Hanging on her neck is a chain with a silver cross. Her stepdad gave it to her the first time she told her story at a rally in Smiths Falls.

She's going public with her tale because she wants to help teens avoid following in her footsteps.

The story starts when Jessica's in Grade 8. She experiments with sex. She sleeps with older guys and she's not careful about it.

At age 13, she becomes pregnant. Eleven weeks later, she has an abortion.

SKIPS SCHOOL

That summer, Jessica's confidence and self-esteem drop drastically. In the fall, she starts school at Ridgemont High, but it's rocky. She skips classes and withdraws from friends.

She's drinking so heavily that even the smell of booze makes her nauseous. She spends a lot of time downtown, hanging out with street kids she befriends.

"I just thought they were interesting. I didn't think it would go any further," Jessica says.

But it does.

Jessica meets a girl who's selling PCP. Jessica buys some and likes it. She starts by taking "bumps" of PCP every now and then, but eventually can't stay away from it.

One day, while sitting on a bench by the Rideau Canal with a boyfriend, Jessica overdoses. Her speech is so slurred it takes her a week to start talking properly again.

She swears off booze and drugs. It's a pledge that doesn't last long.

Jessica's boyfriend leaves to live with his dad on the East Coast. She tries to follow him, but her mom, Heather Hilts -- with the help of Montreal police -- catches her while she waits for a bus in Montreal.

She's taken home, kicking the back of the car seat all the way. Back in Ottawa, Jessica goes back to hanging out with street friends. She scores a deal on morphine, pays $10 for a pill. She crushes it, takes a snort and starts to feel really good.

"It's like you have no worries. You feel mellow, euphoric."

She's using daily, but it isn't enough to get high and she has to buy more. But it's getting too expensive. She needs a quick high, but from something that's cheap.

Jessica turns to heroin.

One night, in the basement of her parents' house, a friend -- also a heroin addict -- injects Jessica for her first time. She's 14.

"It was this rush. From that first time I tried it, I was a full-on addict," she says.

The next day, Jessica -- the same girl who once threw up in a doctor's office from fear of a blood test -- gives herself the needle.

She breaks down crack with vinegar and injects her veins so often they become hardened.

Not able to shoot up crack anymore, Jessica starts smoking it, saving her veins for morphine.

It doesn't take long for her mother to find a used needle in the basement and confront her daughter about it. Jessica has two choices -- the Children's Aid Society or rehab.

IN AND OUT OF REHAB

Jessica chooses rehab. She's in and out for a couple of years. When she turns 16, and soon after leaving rehab at Hope Place, Jessica takes off to Newfoundland to join her boyfriend. They travel the East Coast together for a month before coming back to Ottawa. They need more drugs, and travelling makes it hard to feed an addiction.

Jessica sleeps on sidewalks, in an abandoned house, and even in a gazebo in the park. She stays at shelters.

"It didn't matter the drugs I did. I could die and I'd say 'at least I died high,'" Jessica says.

Finally, Jessica decides it's time to try rehab again. In the fall of 2003, she enters the Alwood Treatment Centre in Carleton Place, only to plot a way to get kicked out. She's consuming hair products just three months later.

"I lost my motivation after a while and said 'screw it.' "

Her mother takes her to Kingston for detox. Again she bolts, returning to the streets of Ottawa.

SELLS HER BODY

Jessica quickly goes back to her old ways, shooting up and smoking crack. But the money still isn't easy to find. So she starts to sell her body.

At 16, she's working a corner on Cumberland St., charging $20 for sex. She realizes that at her age she can make more money. She ups her rates to $200 for a half-hour and $350 for an hour.

She lies about her age, telling clients she's really 18.

She loses count of how many men she's had, but says it's easily more than 300.

Meanwhile, with a picture of Jessica in hand, her mom scours the downtown streets, asking anyone if they've seen her. Her mom wants to know if Jessica's still alive.

"You go to bed wondering, 'Is she dead? Is she cold? Did someone kidnap her? Did someone rape her?' " Heather says.

The turning point comes that June, when a male friend beats her up and Jessica ends up in the hospital.

After he threatens to kill her, Jessica calls home.

At 11 p.m., her mother, now living in Smiths Falls, drives downtown to pick up her daughter. Her teeth are rotted, her clothes are filthy, she weighs a measly 80 lbs.

"I probably would have died if I stayed (on the streets) two more months," Jessica says.

The next day, Jessica enrols in a methadone clinic in Kingston, where her recovery begins. It's the day Jessica says saved her life.

A week later, her mother, who had never been a church-goer, attends Manotick United Church. It's a life-changing event, and one she wants to share with her daughter, a place where the two of them can belong.

The next week Jessica joins her mom. They've never looked back.

Jessica is part of the church's youth group and shares her story with other teens. Her message is simple: Stay clean, stay safe.

"I feel better now even more than before I started using," Jessica says.

Jessica continues to turn her life around. She holds only one Grade 9 credit and is currently doing correspondence courses at home. She hopes to one day get a high school diploma.

She still takes methadone daily as part of her treatment and recognizes her addiction is an illness that will always be with her. Her arms still show the scars and she has a black hole on one arm.

"It's always going to be me, a part of my life. No matter how long I'll be clean, I'll always be a recovering addict."

Welcome Jessica and Heather