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Tamela’s Story

I’m from Red Wing, Minnesota, and I grew up in a Christian family. I went to Concordia University and graduated with a teaching degree.  I was married twice, but neither marriage lasted.  After my 2nd divorce I had lots of depression and anxiety. My issues really began when I started self-medicating with pot, wine, and cigarettes.

 

I fell in love with a man and he introduced me to meth. I trusted him. And when I was hooked, the abuse started.

I didn’t realize I was addicted to drugs at first, it just felt like partying a lot.  But we lost everything and ended up homeless, living in a van.  Throughout my life I have struggled with co-dependence; because of that, and because of my addiction to meth, I walked away from everything familiar to be with an abusive man that I barely knew.

By the grace of God, my mom and sister figured out where I was and found a way to rescue me from that horrible life.  But once I was safe and back at home, I still felt lost and didn’t know what to do next. I still struggled with addiction. One day, my sister had a seemingly random conversation with someone who was a former client at MnTC; my sister came home and told me she knew what was next for me.  I still believe that was God steering me here.

When I came into the program, I was just a shell with low self-esteem and no joy in my soul. Now I have regained hope and see my value in Jesus. I have been loved upon and lifted up.

It’s still hard for me to believe that the pandemic happened while I was in treatment. My roommate tested positive and had to go into quarantine, which was also hard on me. I had just discovered a sister to go through the program with me, and now, I thought, I have to do it alone. But the staff here went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and connected. I leaned into my faith in God, and that got me through the low spots.

Peace for me, is being able to heal after going through so much trauma. I now feel the Holy Spirit in my heart.