In my first year of high school, social
services came to speak to me. Mum
had got herself into another violent
relationship and it was then that we
moved into Gypsy Lane Hostel in
Rochdale. It wasn’t the first time
we’d been in a hostel.
That’s when I started smoking and by
the time I was 14, I ended up
pregnant. Unfortunately,
“adulthood” wasn’t new to me
because at just over 10 years, I was
used continually for a period of 12
months. By 17, I was back in Gypsy
Lane hostel but this time with my
own child and for the same reason
my mum was there (running from a
violent relationship). I was following
in my mum’s footsteps and had even
started taking other drugs like speed
and ecstasy, and dabbled in a bit of
coke.
I left that hostel and after 9 years of
not seeing my dad I got back in touch
with him and he came to stay with
me. It was while he was staying at
mine that he asked me to go and
score some drugs for him.
I didn’t want to go but he kept on at
me so eventually I went.. Later that
night he took those drugs and they
triggered off a brain haemorrhage. I
came downstairs the next morning to
find my dad DEAD on the floor!!
The drugs I had scored for him had
killed him. That was the worst
experience of my life and I was so
consumed with guilt. 9 years later I
was still consumed with guilt and by
now had 2 children and was living on
my own. It was during this time I met
a girl called Jo who took me to a
conference called Fixed.
On 23rd March 2013, I arrived at
Fixed and it blew me away I was
gripped! So many times during that
day, I felt God was speaking to me
and there were opportunities for me
to respond and ask God into my life
but I just didn’t move, not until the
final time in the evening and I just
shot out of my seat. I walked to the
front and I prayed asking God to
come into my life. I became a
Christian. It was then I felt the guilt
and shame I had lived with for years
just lift! I started going to church and
within 6 months I was baptised.
Statistics say I should have problems
with addiction, suffer damaging
mental troubles and have a slim
chance of a high quality relationship!
But I am glad to say I have NO
addiction, NO mental troubles and
I’ve just celebrated my second
wedding anniversary with my
wonderful husband, Brad, who is my
former pastor’s son.
Jesus freed me from guilt and
showed me that with God, we are
more than just a statistic.
To contact Adelle, email
[email protected] or visit her
church website. www.kirkholtcc.co.uk
JASMINE'S PLACE
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