A New Person in Christ

My name, Linda, means "pretty" in Spanish. Ten years ago my life was anything but pretty. As you can see, my adolescent affair with alcohol and drugs began to take its toll on my face. It all began when I was sixteen and no one really thought, least of all me, that a few small glasses of wine or a smoke of marijuana would graduate me into an adult-sized habit. Since I yearned to be free and on my own, I left home when I turned eighteen. Leaving home only accelerated my wild ride down a drug infested highway crowded with other kids like me. In my tangled web of addiction, I amazingly thought I was finally free and on my own!

Of course, in reality, I was becoming increasingly dependent. Soon my habit grew from marijuana to cocaine and then heroin. Paying for my growing habit only increased my need for cash which drove me to break the law more often than not. But what else could I do? Sure, I could stop doing drugs, but I was hopelessly shackled to cocaine and heroin and my freedom and willpower were as elusive as a vapor.

Excursions of thievery provided the money to fund my habit . . . and it eventually yielded an arrest followed by another. Pretty soon my police rap sheet began to look like a pricey mail order catalogue. Every time I finished a jail sentence, I'd talk my mom into letting me come back home. Boy, was I good at saying what she wanted to hear from her "little girl". She always gave in, until one day when she began to see through my pleadings and refused to let me come home until I sought out some help.

That's when I discovered that my step-sister graduated from Teen Challenge in Michigan. After talking to her on the phone, she convinced me I should check out Teen Challenge in Southern California. The next day I climbed aboard a shabby city bus for the ride to Long Beach. Watching one town melt into the next, I knew in my heart I'd either check into the Teen Challenge center or find some new "friend" who would share their drugs with me till we passed out. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the Teen Challenge center was just across the street from where I once did drugs. Nonetheless, I left all that behind, walked into Teen Challenge and embraced the new adventure that awaited me as a child of God. No more drugs, alcohol, or run-ins with the law... I was a new creature!

Though sober and doing well in my Teen Challenge program for some time, I knew there was still an old warrant out for my arrest. Finally it came up in court and I once again faced the judge. This time my new life was evident in my face. I told the judge about my program at Teen Challenge and since I was never assigned to any drug diversion program, the judge agreed for me to stay with Teen Challenge. When I finished the program, I had to reappear before the judge and he couldn't believe the change in me. He even asked me to tell my "story" before everyone in the courtroom. Of course, they heard how God had changed my life around and gave me hope.

Over the last ten years of my sobriety, including my time on the staff of Teen Challenge, I've probably helped a few hundred girls find their way out. Once God takes you out, you're so grateful! Today my husband serves on the Teen Challenge staff and I continue to reflect the transformation God can do for a person ready to tackle their issues and let Him provide healing.