A Struggling Addict Finds Renewal Through ‘God Will Provide’ – Part II

Andy surrounded by a group of orphans in Kenya (Photo courtesy of Nadja).

God Will Provide began in a living room with five recovering addicts, or students, and two pastors in 2005. It has multiplied since, first establishing the men’s rehabilitation facility, followed by a women’s center, and missionary college. Based largely on donations from local churches, fundraisers, and missionary services held by Fountain of Life Church, God Will Provide has expanded orphanages and/or churches in countries worldwide including Austria, Honduras, India, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Kenya, and Ukraine; plans for Somalia are in its early stages. Interestingly, “every single one of these [establishments was started] by people who were ex-addicts… Every single one of them were all students in the program at one point,” reveals Andy.

“My lifestyle [has] changed so dramatically that they’re not really expecting [me to] slip… There are some people [who] go through the program that fall, of course. They’re hoping I’d never be one of them and I know I’ll never be one of them… Every time I would even get a thought [to use], I’d think of the nightmare that it was. It was a nightmare. Never again… Never, never, ever, ever.”

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A Struggling Addict Finds Renewal Through ‘God Will Provide’ – Part I

Andy and Nadja pictured together at a church baptism some time prior to Andy going to the men's center. (Photo courtesy of Nadja).

Two years into their marriage, Nadja learned in part what Andy had been secretly involved in.

“I noticed [Andy] was acting differently and I kept asking him what was going on…”

“…I was just fed up and I had to tell [Nadja…]: ‘I have a problem. Sometimes I do [drugs] and I can’t stop.’ I didn’t want to tell her I was fully addicted because I wanted to get clean and then tell her…” Andy didn’t want to worry his bride.

Nadja struggled to comprehend her husband’s addiction. “After he told me he had a problem, I didn’t understand why he couldn’t stop if he knew it hurt me. And it was hard to believe that a person [I] loved and trusted had been lying to [me]… I didn’t know where to turn. I felt helpless and I prayed every night for him; sometimes, just [cried] alone asking God to change him, help him – and us. It was the hardest time of my life.”

Nadja “realized that when an addiction consumes [someone], [they] can’t stop for anyone – not [their] parents, brother, or wife. Andy [needed] to do it for himself and only with God’s help.”

Andy planned to change and he was determined to do it on his own.

“…he literally stayed up all night long,” remembers Nadja. “I sat there on the bed with him and he went through the withdrawals… [it was] the worst thing in the world and-”

“-you feel like dying when you come off this stuff. It’s not only physical. It’s mental. It’s everything. You feel like you want to commit suicide…” remarks Andy.

Nadja was desperate for help and with little money to spare, she didn’t know where to begin.

READ FULL POST: http://jennycantu.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/a-struggling-addict-finds-renewal-through-god-will-provide-part-i/