Angela Brown
Testimony of Angela Brown who recently completed our Life Recovery Program successfully and is building her new life in George:
“I had a very good life, until my husband decided to stop all payments, which left me with nowhere to go. None of my family were able to give me a place to stay. This left me in a difficult place. My sister told be about Vistarus giving people a place to stay and food. I was scared beyond words, but Vistarus gave me a place to stay.
During my time at Vistarus, the way I saw things changed. I realised that no one had it easy and that there are many people who are struggling. It gave me insight into hard work. I have learnt not to isolate myself and to speak to different kinds of people. I found my relationship with God had deepened and I learned how to depend fully on Him.
I am stable and find myself much stronger that what I was when I came here. I have learned how to depend on God more than I depend on myself. I will be living with my son in George and this gives us the opportunity to make up for lost time. I am very excited about the future since I trust that walking with God my life will work out one way of the other. I hope to one day look back at this time in my life and be a testimony to someone else.
[Once settling in George Angela updated us some more]:
I have left Vistarus after my six months of being on the program. I decided to do the best for myself, and I had moved to George where I am currently working as an aromatherapy massage therapist. I'm happy and content with all that I had learned from others that was in the dorm with me. Knowing that it was just temporary. I'm glad for the lessons learned.”
We pray all the best for your future journey Angela!
Anton Havenga
“I stayed in Cape Town before I decided to come and leave everything and everyone behind to get a fresh new start in PE. I heard about this place called Vistarus and made my decision to come here. I had problems with family members in Cape Town and as a result had no place to stay and my life was going backwards fast, which is why I made the move here.
I came here not knowing anyone or any place at all. It was difficult at first but being a people’s person I got along well with everyone and adjusted to life here. I started off at Cowboys Bungalow and completed my Life Recovery Program here, attending all the classes whilst staying out of trouble. After working in different areas I was asked to become a bungalow leader. I accepted and am now leader of Cowboys Bungalow at Vistarus, whilst also functioning as a driver. All this was made possible because I found God again and He started to mould and shape me into the person that He wants me to be for Him.
I am a changed man, through the grace of God that gives me strength. Without God nothing would have been possible. He opened doors for me and I know that He still has a lot in store for my new life here at Vistarus and the people He has brought into my life to help become better children for God. I see myself growing every day, more and more. All the glory and honour goes to God Who is my Saviour, amen!”
Anton is currently halfway through the Year of Training course that all Vistarus leaders go through to help them grow spiritually whilst equipping them for more effective servant leadership at the Centre. We are proud of your Anton and pray rich grace over your heart and life in His service here at Vistarus.
Bianca Septoo
“I was at a place where I had no hope for myself. I drank a lot to get away from my abusive life. My children’s father was an addict and gave me hell. At some point I was sleeping on the street with a baby of three month’s old (little Diego). It was only God Who kept me safe at that time. When I arrived at Vistarus I was down and out. I had to adjust to a new life. I was confused and emotionally drained. I didn’t know if I’d make it in, any way – but they accepted me onto their Life Recovery Program.
At Vistarus I’ve come to know God once again. I’ve rebuilt my relationship with God. I have learned how to socialise with people. The spiritual teachings reminded me that God is the only One Who can help us out of the distress we are experiencing.
Today I am on a path of recovery and restoration. It never stops as long as you put your trust in God. Everyday I learn more and more. But I am happy and I know there is a plan in store for me. I just have to keep trusting and obeying God. My future hope is in the plans God has for me.”
Friends say Bianca has gone from an invisible person under the radar to someone who has become confident and had begun to blossom in the light of God’s love.
Catherine Richardson
“I come from a family of 13 where all of us were given away. I was the 13th child. I was placed in a convent as baby, looked after by the nuns. I also went to different families for the holidays. By the age of four had been badly physically and mentally abused. I was then adopted by my parents when the convent closed. I went through life feeling unwanted and rejected! I felt that I never fitted in anywhere! I always ran away when things got too much for me. My life was so unsettled that as adult I turned to wrong ways of coping and living: drugs, alcohol and partying. It was not a life to be proud of.
Then the most amazing change happened in my life. I was brought to Vistarus. It was the best thing I could ever have asked for. The amazing people who are here to help you see how amazing or different your life can be if you have God in it. I so badly wanted that change. Today I am thankful to say that my life is now so amazing and I have been so blessed. I am saved and give God all the honour and glory as He is my Provider. Today I am happily married to a wonderful man. I take it one day at a time and let God guide me, I live for today for tomorrow belongs to the Lord.”
Catherine was shy, timid and terrified when she arrived at Vistarus. Today she smiles a great deal more, is bold and confident and radiates hope and peace. We are very proud of Catherine’s personal development and pray much more growth and grace in her journey with little Maddie and husband Jonathan.
Chris Benson
This is the testimony of Chris Benson who successfully graduated from our Life Recovery Program a few years back and is today a renter at Vistarus, giving back in our Victory addict recovery group:
“I came from a loving home with good values and strong support structure. Everything changed the day I found my mom after she had committed suicide. That was when I tried to numb the feelings with drugs. Eventually, whilst living with my sister I found myself stealing from her to support my cocaine habit of 3 bags per day, every day. My life had become an utter mess – that is when I decided to come to Vistarus.
The journey at Vistarus was tough at first, because I had become used to the lifestyle of an addict. I had to retrain myself to follow a schedule and to learn responsibility. It was here at Vistarus I had that “moment” where I realised I couldn’t achieve sobriety alone. That was the point at which, through the help of Vistarus, I gave my life to the Lord. That was the moment I made the decision to be the man my parents knew that I was capable of being.
My life today is one where I am able to look in the mirror and not be ashamed of who I am. I have my family back in my life, and I have the most beautiful niece to motivate me all the way. She gives me the drive to always be someone to look up to, someone she loves.
My future hope is for my story to be one of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence, my identity doesn’t have to be what you associate my old lifestyle with. I wish nothing more than each day that the Lord blesses me to open my eyes and to start a new day, and for active users to see that once you take His hand, your load is removed and you can start your live over as a reborn child of God.”
Thank you Chris for the courage and passion you display sharing your journey to help others climb out the pit of addiction.
Hannes Strydom
ALMAL SE SKULD BEHALWE MYNE EN EEN RY VOET SPORE
My storie klink so:
Nou wat die die brief tik speel my lewe soos n rolprent voor my af. Ek sal dit maar kort hou want daar was te veel wat in my lewe gebeur het. Ek was 13 jaar oud toe my ouers geskei is. Ek en my ma het in n een slaapkamer gebly want daar was nie geld nie, sy het maar goed gemaak dan het ek dit naskool gaan verkoop om geld in te kry. Ek het vriende gemaak, hulle was baie ouer as ek en om in te pas het ek begin rook en drink saam hulle. Dit was eers naweke en toe in die week, dit het so aangegaan totdat ek klaar was met skool. Ek het begin werk en n aanbag as sweiser begin doen met die wat ek nou my eie geld verdien het, het ek meer begin drink sodat ek uit die werk begin bly het. Ek het so gedrink dat ek my werk verloor het en was in en uit werk, ek het my eie besigheid begin, dit het goed gegaan behalwe dat ek meer en meer begin drink het. Ek het als verloor selfs my familie en daar was ek op straat, 44 jaar oud en niks om daarvoor te wys nie.
Ek was twee weke op straat voordat iemand my vertel het van Vistarus, ek het my trots in my sak gesteek en om hulp gaan vra. Kobus hulle het nie twee keer gedink om my te help nie. Dit was eers moeilik met al hulle reels maar ek het die program voltooi, my self respek terug gekry en meer begin begin leer oor God. Op die 9de Maart 2012 het ek my knee gebuig voor God en my lewe het verander, e kon mense weer in die oe kyk en het myself laat groot doop op die 14de April 2012.
Vandag is ek deel van Vistarus se bestuur en trots daarop.
Die een ry voetspore is God wat my dra. Ek bedank God vir sy genade en Vistarus. In Junie sal ek 6 jaar skoon wees van drank.
My vraag is het jy al jou knee gebuig voor God.
AMEN
Mark & Shaday Jumath
Father’s day testimony
Daar is so baie wat gebeur het. Ek was in ‘n toestand, het nie geweet of ek kom of gaan ek nie. Ek is oorspronklik van Oudtshoorn, maar ek was so vagevang in die drugs dat ek nie huis toe kon gaan nie, my menswaardigheid was geknak. Ek het geen hoop vir my lewe gehad nie. Ek was ‘n teleurstelling vir my ouers, hulle wou niks met my te doen gehad het nie. Ek kon nie die vrou van my drome hê nie, want watter goeie en normale mens stel belang aan ‘n drug kop. Dit was ‘n eensame lewe.
Ek het by Vistarus aangekom op 2 Februarie 2018. Ek het oor die jare ‘n probleem gehad met vertroue, die mense by Vistarus is almal so “nice” dit het my ‘n tyd gevat om gewoond te raak aan die idee. Die Y.O.T. (Year of Training) kursus het my baie gehelp om te deel met my emosies – die gevoel om waardeer te word het by Vistarus ‘n baie groot rol gespeel. Ek meen mense wat jou nie ken nie stel so baie belang, ek kon dit nie glo nie – maar ek moes dit ‘n kans gee en dit het my geestelike lewe baie goed gedoen. Ek kan nou ook lag en gelukkig wees sonder drugs danksy Vistarus.
My droom het waargeword: ek’s pa vir my kind en ek’s getroud en die belangrikste van als: God is die anker van my huwelik. Die familie aanvaar my weer en almal is saam met my bly. Dis lekker om vir jou gesin te werk, ek kan weer soos ‘n man voel.
Ek hoop om ‘n meer intieme verhouding met onse Hemelse Vader te hê en my kinders groot te maak met die woord van God. Ek wil baie graag vir my familie ‘n huis gee en ek hoop dat ek vir andere wat worstel met dwelms kan inspireer en reghelp.
____
#FATHERSDAY “There is so much that has happened. I was in a state, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. I’m originally from Oudtshoorn, but was so ensnared in the drug life that I could not return home – my human dignity was completely shattered. I had no hope for my life. I could not even consider having the wife of my dreams because who would love a drug-head like me? It was a lonely life.
I arrived at Vistarus on 2 February 2018. Over the years I had difficulty trusting others. The people at Vistarus were so kind it took be time to become used to the idea of acceptance in community. The Year of Training Course helped me deal with a lot of my emotions. The sense of being appreciated at Vistarus played a big role. People who didn’t even know me cared about me – I struggled to accept this at first, but it had a profound impact on me and transformed my life spiritually. Now I am free to live and love and laugh apart from drugs, thanks to help from Vistarus.
My dream has come true: I am a father to my child, I am married and the most important: God is the anchor of my marriage. I am reconciled to my wider family and they are happy with me again. It’s a privilege and delight to work for your own family and I feel like a man of purpose again.
My hope and desire for the future is to deepen intimacy in relationship with our Heavenly Father and to raise my children with the Word of God. I want to provide a home for my own family and help those struggling with drug addiction and inspire them with hope of life beyond addiction.”
A Father’s Day testimony from Mark Jumath, who married his darling Shaday last year and are now expecting their second child. Well done Mark for embracing our Heavenly Father’s love and allowing it to spill over and change your relationships. Super proud of you!
Pieter Nagel
As head of the Nagel household, Pieter gladly shares his testimony. This is a family who came through the Life Recovery Program a few years ago and have gone from strength to strength since then. Let’s hear in Pieter’s own words:
“Let me tell the story from my perspective as I was the reason my wife, Denise and son had to come to Vistarus. In 2011 I had a bad circle of friends and consequently made some very poor choices and started using hard drugs such as mandrax, tik (crystal meth), dagga and a lot of alcohol. It progressed to a point where I almost lost my home and my wife wanted to divorce me.
On the 19th of December 2013 I was sitting at a friend’s house busy doing drugs, I will never forget this, and we were watching a movie. It was of course close to Christmas, I was missing my family and wanted to return to them and I kept repeating this question to myself, “Where will my help come from? How will I come free?” There was a scene in the movie we were watching where the one character cried out “Oh my God, my God, please help me!” and it was as if my eyes opened up in that very moment.
On the 22nd of December, I called my wife and told her I want to come home. At that stage she was living at my father’s house – they immediately came and fetched me. We spent Christmas and New Year together.
On 7 January I came to Vistarus to apply to come onto the Life Recovery Program. Uncle Kobus and management immediately interviewed me, they called my dad in and he confirmed everything that I had said about who I am and what’s happening in my life. When uncle Kobus heard that my wife wanted to divorce me, he said, “No, your wife and child will also come and then we work together on your marriage.” And that’s how our Vistarus journey started.
It wasn’t always easy, coming from a situation where you were your own boss and you could do as you please to suddenly have to submit to a host of rules and regulations. One can’t do as you please anymore, in this situation, because you have to follow the rules. To be honest, this was frustrating at the beginning – really frustrating. When my wife arrived she wasn’t happy about our new arrangement.
The first three months were terrible. I can’t quite remember, but I think I had words with one of the kitchen staff and I marched out the gates and just walked for two hours, all the while, throwing my questions to heaven. And the only answer I got back was, “Give it a chance (surrender to the process” and once I did that, my whole experience of Vistarus shifted. Everything changed. Mutual respect developed between myself and the other people on the Program, I received more responsibility with daily tasks. I also went on the Men of Honour course [a Family Transformation course facilitated by www.familytransformation.org course] – which changed my life! If it wasn’t for that course which helped me understand my role as a husband and in the community, then I don’t know where I would’ve ended up.
Things progressed from there, I continued to develop personally as my faith grew. So much changed there. On the 20 Nov 2013, we had been at Vistarus for about 10 months, we moved out from Vistarus on good footing after Denise, my wife and I renewed our wedding vows to each other in a small ceremony in the community hall at Vistarus. We made promises to each other in the presence of God, renewing and reaffirming our marriage covenant.
We moved to Willowmore where I started a business with my dad. Sadly, my dad passed suddenly from a heart attack and the business closed. I kept us afloat by doing odd jobs and maintenance work. An opportunity arose to apply for a position at the local Clinic through the Dept of Health and I received the job. I started working at the clinic at Willowmore on my birthday. I have now been at the Clinic for 6 years, the LORD has only been good to us as a family. I cannot complain how my life has turned out, I am quite grateful. I developed such confidence as a result of my journey at Vistarus. Uncle Kobus and Hannes always said, “If you can make it in Vistarus, you can make it anywhere.”
So, my advice to the people reading this newsletter, submit to authority – accept help – believe in God and never lose hope. If you can do that first step, just to submit – to bend the knee and to admit that you need help from One Greater, that “I am in this process for a reason, I have no other option but to go through with it – I have none of my own resources to sustain me without help. I am here because I have made mistakes and I need to take responsibility and choose differently, else this process won’t work because I am resisting the help” – that is the right starting point to build from and receive the help you need to choose differently and make a success.
When I left Vistarus, my head was help high – because I submitted, and for this, I am so grateful! Learn to be led, before wanting to lead anyone. A last point I would like to add is that other than submission to authority and accepting outside guidance, it is vital to forgive oneself. I honestly believe that most of the persons who come through the Program hit that barrier – they accept God’s forgiveness, they forgive others, but struggle to forgive themselves for landing themselves in a situation where they are. Once you forgive yourself, you can take the label off that you are a failure and truly restart your life.”
And that, is what the Life Recovery Program is all about. Well done Pieter and Denise for your willingness to humble yourself to a process bigger than your past mistakes and that you guys allowed God’s mercy to restore the foundation of your marriage and lives. In our last conversation, Pieter had his eyes on the position of mayor in the town where they now live. What an amazing trajectory of restoration!
Roxanne Dale
“My life in Pretoria was extremely toxic. From drug abuse to relationship abuse. I found it hard to cope with everything and everyone. Suicide was an option, in my mind. Or running away to some sort of utopia that I thought I would find. But my uncle gave me an idea and a sort of a choice: Vistarus.
As Vistarus I became closer to God. Through the Lord I dealt with my past and my issues and became closer to family. It was tough learning to deal with so many people & cultures. But through the Holy Spirit I got through it.
I am now 11 months clean and free from my haunting past. I have a great life at the moment, I couldn’t be happier. My hope is to succeed in life with God’s guidance. I have a job and now I want to excel in my career and start up a business and help as many humans (and animals) as I am able, along the way.
I thank Vistarus for providing me the platform to learn about God and help me find myself.”
Roxanne was timid and terrified when she arrived at Vistarus. It took a while, but her calm and confidence has now reappeared and we wish her all the best with wise and clear decisions for the future.
Suzette Magielies
“My lewe voor ek in Vistarus beland het was ‘n baie deurmekaar lewe. Ek was baie eie wys, altyd met verkeerde vriende, verkeerde keuses opgeëindig. Dit het gevoel asof ek net verstoot en verwerp was. Ek was baie ongelukkig, eensaam, het niemand gehad wat my bystaan en niemand wat ek kon vertrou. Ek het my probleme met drank probeer oplos, wat glad nie die oplossing was nie. My familie was nie daar vir my – ek het van plek tot plek getrek – maar niks het uitgewerk vir my. Vir my het my lewe buite geen doel gehad nie.
Ek het Vistarus toe gekom. Ek het begin kerk loop hier. Ek het berading gekry. Ek het begin klasse loop (Byblestudie klasse). Ek het begin kursusse bywoon wat deur Vistarus en Harvest aangebied word. Stadig maar seker het ek tot die besef gekom, hier is my familie, hier is vriende wat ek altyd wou gehad het. Ek was met ope arms aanvaar deur hierdie wonderlike, dierbare mense. Ek het nader aan God beweeg totdat ek my hart volkome aan God gegee het. Ek het ook my selfbeeld en self-vertroue teruggekry. Stadig maar seker het ek tot die besef gekom dat God wel ‘n plan vir my al die jare gehad het en nogsteeds het.
Vandag kan ek nog nie glo dat ek so gegroei het nie – maar dit is als te danke aan my Hemelse Vader. Vandag leef ek vir God, vandag vertrou ek volkome op Hom wat die Skepper is. Ek troos my elke dag daaraan dat God Sy belofte in Jeremia 29:11 sal toepas. Vandag het ek baie meer self-vertroue as ‘n paar jaar gelede toe ek nog vir die wêreld geleef het. Vandag is ek ‘n getuie van God se grootheid in baie lewens en dat God liefde is. Ek het besef ons kan eerlik nie ‘n lewe bou as God se teenwoordigheid afwesig is, nie.
‘My future hope is to encourage a lot of women to come to God, to make disciples of Jesus and love warriors for God.’”
Vandag is Suzette, oftewel ons ingenome Zetta, leier in ons kombuis by Vistarus en konstant in haar vriendelike sprankel en ywer!
Vanessa Deary
“My life before Vistarus became a shamble as I decided to move back to Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg thinking I would ace the job market in PE. It didn’t happen. I started to self-medicate with alcohol. Alcohol to help me sleep. Alcohol to relax. Alcohol to feel happy, and yet it did not help at all and then money ran out. My daughter found out about Vistarus and contacted the office. Meanwhile, my depression had reached manic levels. I was basically out of control and needed to find myself back in a framework of discipline.
I arrived at Vistarus on the 26th of September 2014. I stood in front of the building and said, ‘God, here I am. Help me to accept all which is placed on my plate.’ I fitted in well from the start – I just seemed to accept everything going on around me. There were times I was shocked at the way people behaved and the things they said or spoke about. Being fairly protected from certain cultures, my learning curve started late in life. I myself was still an outspoken, straight forward person. So, I tended to tramp on many toes. My journey of true forgiveness started with the help I found in classes and the patience of my counsellors.
Today, with the constant help of Jesus, I have developed further my accepting spirit. I always knew there was a God, but I never knew the Son, Jesus Christ. I have developed an all-round desire to help those in need, naturally and spiritually. I am mainly content and happy – my children. who are grown up, consider Vistarus a safe haven for me. I regard Vistarus as my home and a place where I truly belong. The peace of mind I have obtained here, no money can buy.
I hope to keep practising the life lessons learnt here at Vistarus and to keep the peace of mind which I now enjoy.”
Vanessa is a open hearted person who applies her keen eye and style in sorting the bulk of our clothing and ad hoc donations received and best matching it internally, whilst often having an honest and encouraging word for those who cross her daily orbit.
Wilma Potgieter
“Ek was ‘n drinker, baie erg ook. Vir my het dit gevoel asof ‘n donker wolk oor my hang. Ek het ‘n lae selfbeeld gehad, ek het nie goed gevoel oor myself nie. Ek het geglo daar is geen hoop vir my nie. My kinders was ook uit my sorg gevat. Ek het net my maande oue baba by my gehad.
Toe gebeur Vistarus. Amazing. Toe ek hier aankom het ek my lewe begin uitsorteer en Jesus aangeneem as my Verlosser en Here. Ek was baie gebroke, maar het kom leer en besef hoe goed God is en watter wonderwerke Hy kan doen in jou lewe as jy jou hart toevertrou aan Sy wil en toelaat dat Hy werk in en met jou. Hier het ek kom leer dat daar is hoop!
Vandag is ek ‘n leier by Vistarus en ek werk in die kombuis, die hart van die Sentrum. My kinders is ook almal weer veilig in my sorg en ek is getroud met ‘n wonderlike man, Elick. ‘n Nuwe lewe vou nou oop vir ons gesin. Ek moet sê dat ons ‘n goeie God dien en ek baie dankbaarheid in my hart het.”
Wilma is ‘n passievolle mens wat haar werk ernstig opneem en haar hart straal deur haar warm glimlag – ons is baie trots op jou!