I felt as if I was in some kind of waking nightmare. I was filthy, bruised and covered with needle marks. I was in the basement of a rundown house, and people were screaming at me to give over the drugs they thought I had stolen from them. The last thing I remembered, I'd been at a coffee shop. But I'd obviously been drugged and brought here to get the truth beaten out of me.
How had things gotten so bad? I wondered through the drug-induced fog.
From Pioneer to Addict The drug addict that I'd become was the polar opposite of my former life. I'd been a heavy-equipment operator— one of the few women in that line of work—and was proud to be a pioneer in my field.
But in 2003, I broke my back on the job site. My life changed in an instant. Partially paralyzed, I couldn't walk and was confined to a wheelchair. I was prescribed medication, including opiates to cope with the overwhelming, constant pain. While they were critical to my survival, the drugs clouded my mind and I started making bad decisions. People I thought were my friends introduced me to cocaine and soon I was seriously addicted.
I quickly depleted what funds I had to sustain my habit, and it wasn't very long before I owed some less-than-scrupulous people a lot of money. I started writing bad cheques to cover my expenses, and was coerced into committing crimes such as opening fraudulent accounts and applying for loans under assumed names. I was beaten, abused and threatened with death if I did not pay what I owed.
Inevitably, I was arrested, released and arrested again. The cycle repeated itself for two years as the beatings and abuse became more intense.
I hit the absolute rock bottom of my life when I was accused of hiding a large amount of drugs. I was dragged to a house in another part of town, drugged and beaten. I managed to escape and a Good Samaritan driving along spotted me and brought me to the hospital, where the police were called in. I was free at last.
Lisa Pierce graduated from Fanshawe College and was awarded Fanshawe's distinguished student award
Facilitator It was at that lowest point that I encountered The Salvation Army. Incarcerated yet again, I was ordered by my probation officer to The Salvation Army's correctional and justice services at the Centre of Hope in London, Ont.
Slowly, I started reassembling the pieces of my life. Thanks to the caring staff, I was able to see a future and I started to have faith again.
I had believed in God once, but I blamed Him for my accident and for the poor choices I had made. Thanks to the caring pastors, I finally realized that God is a God of love, not hate, and I learned to forgive those who had hurt me. I stopped looking for someone to blame. Instead, I looked to God and looked for hope.
Though I relapsed over the next year, I finally got sober and things started coming around.
I graduated from Fanshawe College in London, Ont., with a diploma from the social service worker program and was one of only four students to be awarded Fanshawe's distinguished student award last year.
The first thing I did after the award ceremony was go to my Salvation Army counsellor to tell her the news. She looked at me with a smile on her face and simply said, “I knew you could do it.”
That simple affirmation of support was more important than any award.
I am now at university working toward a bachelor's degree in social work. I also volunteer with The Salvation Army's correctional and justice services as a facilitator. Many women recognize me from my time on the streets or have heard stories about what I went through. It makes them listen that much more closely to what I have to say. I don't have to pretend when I say I know their trauma. I've been there, I have come full circle and, now, when I go to sleep at night, I actually like the person I am.
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On Wednesday, February 25, 2015, Jacqueline Edwards said:
Sounds familiar. I share nearly the same story Lisa, and am a Soldier at the Penticton, BC Corps. I, too have my story printed in the Feb. 2012 Faith and Friends. I have now found a sister with a shared common history. It is not impossible, but it is rare to come out of those 'fogs and incarcerations' into a sober and God inspired life with this organization to help us. I applaud you and the rewards you are earning through dedication and devotion. May you continue to be blessed as I too am.
The recently elected government of Manitoba, led by Premier Wab Kinew, called a Public Safety Summit in April to address safety issues and the root causes of crime in the province. Among the attendees were representatives from The Salvation Army’s Prairies and Northern Territories Division, Mark Stewart, executive director at the Centre of
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On Wednesday, February 25, 2015, Jacqueline Edwards said:
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