My Testimony:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I’m Bronwyn and I’m a recovering addict. I first drank alcohol when I was 12, at 14 I smoked weed for the first time, by 16 I had my first acid trip and by 18 I was going out drinking a lot and using and experimenting with most drugs and this was how my life was going to be for the next 13 years. My life was all about going out, partying, drinking and drugs. My finances were in a state and I got myself more and more in debt. Instead of paying bills and school fees I was spending money on going out and drugs. As the years went by my focus on my work was slipping and I missed out on many opportunities and studies to further myself.
For many years I had low self-esteem and was desperate to get into a relationship, any relationship as I hated being alone and on my own. In 2008 I met my ex-husband and my life went on a dramatic downward spiral. Because I was using drugs and always drinking and also so desperate to be loved I overlooked his home environment and his family life and ignored all the warning signs. Between my abusive marriage and daily drug use I lost my job, my relationship with my family and friends deteriorated to the point of no contact, my son wanted nothing to do with me and I was left with nothing. I lied to everyone and stole.
For the next 5 years I ran away from my husband 9 times and on these occasions my mom took me back in to her home and between her, my friends and family they all tried to help me get my life back together but I still continued to drink and use drugs and had no coping mechanisms and still felt that I was alone which I hated and I would end up secretly making contact with my ex-husband and running back to him, often without informing my mom and contacting her for days or weeks, on one occasion everyone had assisted me in relocating to Somerset West where two of my friends took me into their homes and helped me find a home and get settled there. I was admitted into hospital with depression and whilst there made contact with my ex who arranged an airplane ticket for me back to Joburg, I left secretly without informing anyone and abandoned my son there who was staying at my friend whilst I was in hospital.
In the last year with my ex-husband things got really bad, it was a haze with being constantly high and with that my ex was psychotic and the abuse had gotten to its worst and I feared for my life and I started praying to God to please help me get out of my marriage as I was scared and I didn’t want to become a statistic. Then in June 2012 we were arrested for possession of drugs and spent 48 hours in the holding cells and the prosecutor offered us a court diversion which meant we needed to attend a rehab programme for a year and stay clean and he told us about MWLC.
I started at Mighty Wings end of June 2012 and shortly afterwards left my husband. A month later our charges were dropped however I decided to carry on with the programme voluntarily. I realised then that God had answered my prayers, not only did he get me out of there but he brought me to a place that offered support and the tools in which to get my life sorted out.
Working the programme and focusing on my recovery and having the support of my mom, son, family, friends, my support group at Mighty Wings and Mighty Wings has changed my life for the better. I have now had a stable job for 2 and half years, gotten a new car and am a mother again to my son. I have a close relationship with my mother again. From having no relationship with God in my past I now talk and pray to Him daily and ask Him for guidance in my life and have a relationship with God.
I am no longer afraid of being alone and on my own and enjoy my own company. I’m not as anxious as I was before and have built up my self-esteem and confidence. I enjoy a life without chaos and life being clean and sober and I take pleasure out of the small things, things I took for granted before! And I still see the benefits of my recovery on a daily basis!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I’m Bronwyn and I’m a recovering addict. I first drank alcohol when I was 12, at 14 I smoked weed for the first time, by 16 I had my first acid trip and by 18 I was going out drinking a lot and using and experimenting with most drugs and this was how my life was going to be for the next 13 years. My life was all about going out, partying, drinking and drugs. My finances were in a state and I got myself more and more in debt. Instead of paying bills and school fees I was spending money on going out and drugs. As the years went by my focus on my work was slipping and I missed out on many opportunities and studies to further myself.
For many years I had low self-esteem and was desperate to get into a relationship, any relationship as I hated being alone and on my own. In 2008 I met my ex-husband and my life went on a dramatic downward spiral. Because I was using drugs and always drinking and also so desperate to be loved I overlooked his home environment and his family life and ignored all the warning signs. Between my abusive marriage and daily drug use I lost my job, my relationship with my family and friends deteriorated to the point of no contact, my son wanted nothing to do with me and I was left with nothing. I lied to everyone and stole.
For the next 5 years I ran away from my husband 9 times and on these occasions my mom took me back in to her home and between her, my friends and family they all tried to help me get my life back together but I still continued to drink and use drugs and had no coping mechanisms and still felt that I was alone which I hated and I would end up secretly making contact with my ex-husband and running back to him, often without informing my mom and contacting her for days or weeks, on one occasion everyone had assisted me in relocating to Somerset West where two of my friends took me into their homes and helped me find a home and get settled there. I was admitted into hospital with depression and whilst there made contact with my ex who arranged an airplane ticket for me back to Joburg, I left secretly without informing anyone and abandoned my son there who was staying at my friend whilst I was in hospital.
In the last year with my ex-husband things got really bad, it was a haze with being constantly high and with that my ex was psychotic and the abuse had gotten to its worst and I feared for my life and I started praying to God to please help me get out of my marriage as I was scared and I didn’t want to become a statistic. Then in June 2012 we were arrested for possession of drugs and spent 48 hours in the holding cells and the prosecutor offered us a court diversion which meant we needed to attend a rehab programme for a year and stay clean and he told us about MWLC.
I started at Mighty Wings end of June 2012 and shortly afterwards left my husband. A month later our charges were dropped however I decided to carry on with the programme voluntarily. I realised then that God had answered my prayers, not only did he get me out of there but he brought me to a place that offered support and the tools in which to get my life sorted out.
Working the programme and focusing on my recovery and having the support of my mom, son, family, friends, my support group at Mighty Wings and Mighty Wings has changed my life for the better. I have now had a stable job for 2 and half years, gotten a new car and am a mother again to my son. I have a close relationship with my mother again. From having no relationship with God in my past I now talk and pray to Him daily and ask Him for guidance in my life and have a relationship with God.
I am no longer afraid of being alone and on my own and enjoy my own company. I’m not as anxious as I was before and have built up my self-esteem and confidence. I enjoy a life without chaos and life being clean and sober and I take pleasure out of the small things, things I took for granted before! And I still see the benefits of my recovery on a daily basis!