Fimiam Baptist Church

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Anna Marchenko

I spent my childhood in a good family with a mother and a father. My father liked to drink and my parents divorced when I was 6 years old. My mother began to raise me alone. My mother’s brother was a drug addict and when he came from prison my mother began to use drugs. I was left by myself at the age of 8.

I began smoking with my friends near school when I was 11 years old. I wanted to be cool and a girl who did not drink and smoke was not considered normal. I did not want to fail in that category. I wanted to be better to have better view of myself.

At the age of 13, I began to steal at the market from people’s pockets. At the age of 14 (I was convicted twice already), I was sent to prison for 2 years. I was released from prison in a year and 2 months because of pre-term discharge. But I did not learn a lesson in prison. When I came out, I began to visit disco bars and funny hang outs. I drank, smoked weed, and took pills. I visited evening school and 90% of visitors were like me. I had drugs at home so I did not need to look for it.

I had a friend who did drugs too and she told me that I could be moderate in drug use and not have it go into my system. Even though I had other drug addicts who said this and ended up in a hell, I believed my friend.

First we took pills like ephedrine. Later I tried hard drugs. For half a year I was doing drugs 6 times every day. I thought I could quit at any time. When my mother learned that I was a drug addict and told me to quit I realized that I could not live without them.

I will never forget that night…an awful night of my life when my body craved drugs.

My mother sent me to the hospital. I was there and was on drugs at the same time. Then my mother was in prison again. The real life of a drug addict was opened to me when I woke up with one question: “Where shall I get drugs?”

I tried everything. I lived with gypsies when the police were looking for me. I left my apartment. I slept wherever: in drugs addicts’ dens, in an underground shelter, with alcoholics, with drug addicts, even in a doorway because I did not have a place to go.

I was going down and down. I looked awful. I had my first abscesses.

At the age of 17, I learn that, together with drugs which I bought from gypsies, I had bought a disease …I became HIV-positive. I was shocked. The only thing that was left was to be on drugs until the end of my life. I made such decision for myself.

When people suggested going to church and to God, I stated that nothing would help me. There was no way out. I was doomed. A drug addict is a drug addict for the rest of his or her life.

But God helps. He provides a way out to drug addicts as well!

Once after buying a dose, I was going home and got into a car accident. It is only by God’s grace that I lived. I know that it was Jesus who made the nurses’ hearts good to me. They took care of me, even though I did not have parents or money. My legs were both broken, they removed my spleen, and my head was crushed. I stayed at the hospital for 2 months and then they sent me home. I had a casts on my legs in an empty apartment by myself. I did not know what to do next. What could I do if I could not walk? I thought I would die of hunger. Who wanted to talk to me? Neighbors? Surely not! I stole from two of them, argued with another and I tried to avoid the third one.

At that moment I thought about the One Who is always close. I said: “Lord, forgive me for my sins and please do not leave me alone, help me…” I prayed many times and cried. And God heard my prayers! He forgave me and helped me!!!

In the evening all my neighbors came. They forgave me and started to help me by bringing me some food.

One lady came to me and introduced herself, stating that she had been in prison with my mother. She wanted to know if I was still alive because someone had told her that I was dead. Tanya told me that she had been a drug addict, but was now a Christian and visited Fimiam Chruch. Then guys from the rehabilitation center began to visit me. They also brought me food. My mother came from prison and she began to visit church, then repented and quit smoking. In several months the casts were taken away and I began to walk. When I could walk well, I went to rehabilitation center of Fimiam Church.

I have lived with God for 5 years now. I have joy in my life and everything that I could dream about: a family and God in my heart! Jesus gave me freedom from everything, called me His child and gave me eternal life.

I am asked if I still want to be on drugs. I answer: Why should I want it? Jesus gave me complete freedom. I serve in the rehabilitation center. I help those who suffer like I did. I want every drug addict to receive freedom in Jesus Christ, to come to the light from darkness and to see the world with brand new eyes.

I am not ashamed to say it 1000 times: “Praise to Jesus, our Lord for ever and ever!”