Drug Dealers in Heaven, What???

Since last Monday's breakthrough, it feels like the floodgates have opened and we're starting to see real tangible signs that life change is happening! More and more people are starting to seek help: finding work, finding a place to live, getting connected to social assistance and other services, and most encouraging -seeking treatment from the addictions that have held them down so long.

It's really quite remarkable... though it should come as no surprise, since we believe in a supernatural God capable of unimaginable miracles, right?

It seems a miracle has happened in the life of one of our most 'lost' drug addicts/dealer. Tommy (*not his real name) truly fit the stereotype of a street gangsta. Chains around his neck, over sized football jersey, baggy pants... he walked with an unmistakable strut that carried an air of 'untouchable' arrogance. The staff weren't sure what to make of him, he was a bizarre paradox to say the least... Here you had this kid, that was perhaps the most despicable (in the Mission life-change sense) -a drug dealer, but at the same time he was charming, funny and still really likable, despite the obvious.

Tommy reached an impasse in his life here in Vernon, too many people knocking down his door it seems... So, unannounced to anyone he skipped town to Vancouver.

So when he came back strutting through our front doors last week, (after a few months away) I could only imagine the kind of trouble he got into while on the West Coast.

I quickly discovered that one shouldn't jump to such conclusions so easily. It seems, an angel (of sorts) plucked him right off the streets and convinced him that detox was the way to go... From there, he started up in their work service... first, as a worker who'd pick up used rigs on the streets and alleyways. Then he started helping make lunches and serving them. Then he picked up a third job (!) handing out blankets at the overnight shelter.

He started sensing a change in his own heart, (remembering as we told him repeatedly that Jesus had a plan for his life, that he would be used as a vessel to do HIS amazing works) that by sharing his own experiences, that he could reach those that in the same place he was.

He shared with them, another path to take. A happier place of truth and a freedom from drugs and the streets... what a miracle!

That said, Tommy is no saint (and he recognizes that). There is a reason that he was brought back to Vernon, some unresolved issues to face. But when all is said and done, I believe that Tommy is going to do wonderful things in the name of Jesus, bringing addicts back from the point of no return, and telling them, that this place doesn't exist! That by the power of God all can be saved and have eternal life and real PURPOSE in life! How cool is that?

Ephesians 2:8 -For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Romans 10:12-13 -For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Creatures of Habit

Resources lacking -Jul 06 2007

On June 17, you published a letter regarding local homeless drug users in which A.N. Brown wrote: "Those that really need the help should be in some monitored group home where they can receive the medical help they need and are safe from the dregs that prey on them." Bravo. I wish to agree wholeheartedly. That is exactly where many of these people should be, in treatment centers.

The unfortunate truth is that B.C. has desperately insufficient resources for dealing with this problem. For starters no one gets to treatment without going to detox first. Detox takes a matter of days whereas comprehensive treatment takes weeks just to make a good start. 
There are 1,038 drug and alcohol rehab beds in all of B.C. of which about 600 are detox beds and 400 are treatment beds. 

Assuming an average of two weeks of detox and six weeks of treatment, our system is capable of detoxing four times more people than it's capable of treating. 
That means out of four people who make a decision to get help and get straight, only one will find a treatment bed available after detox. The other three will walk out of detox with no support to stay straight and no tools to support their own sobriety. They typically end up right back where they started. The net result is often a complete waste of resources.

In 2003 the Vancouver Coastal Health authority estimated that there were 20-25,000 injection drug users residing in B.C. I want to be very clear that this figure does not include countless others who use highly addictive drugs without using needles. I've had a hard time finding a more comprehensive figure but we know the situation has not improved since 2003. It's getting worse, so these figures will serve to illustrate my point.

The 400 available treatment beds can start the rehabilitation process for about 4000 users annually. It would take more than five years just to treat B.C.'s injection drug users alone. Who knows how long to deal with the remaining addicts who smoke, eat, snort and drink their substance of choice. 

I understand that many people feel resentment that our tax dollars should have to be applied to cleaning up the mess of addiction. The truth is that, regardless of who made the mess, we are all living with it. Many more of us than some are willing to admit are vulnerable to addiction. No one wants to be addicted to meth or heroin. No one believed it would take them down when they started. Those were errors in judgement made long ago, decisions that were supported by the predators who make their living peddling poison. There are 600 known organized crime groups operating in Canada, with 128 in B.C. alone.

We need more treatment beds and more qualified treatment professionals. We need to be effectively prosecuting the sellers and stop persecuting the users.
Every dollar spent on the incarceration of drug users is a waste of resources that could be redirected to treatment. There is no rehabilitation in our prison system, just a higher price to pay for staying high. 

So to A.N. Brown, and other like-minded individuals, it's all well and good to suggest that those who are down and out ought to get help. We just have to be willing to dole out our tax money to ensure sufficient, appropriate help is available. 
Sam Zaharia

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I could have wept after reading this... I especially loved the line hi-lighted in red.

I shared this letter to the editor with you to give you a better idea of what we're up against.

It's extremely difficult when you get somebody at their lowest point -who is sincere and ready to make that change to sobriety, to get 'clean' from the drugs, life on the streets -only to make the calls and get the same disappointing answer time after time... 'sorry, we don't have any beds available, but do keep calling us back.'

It is not uncommon for the wait time to be months in some treatment centres, which to a homeless person can seem like an eternity. With the streets awash in drugs and temptation, the chances of recapturing this desire for change is nearly impossible.

That's why today, was one of the best days we've had in a long time! One of our guys Wayne Ladoceur (*not his real name) was accepted today into Teen Challenge! (http://bcteenchallenge.com/ok/frameset.html)

To say we're proud of Wayne, is an understatement. And the fact this is a Christian based treatment centre, with an 86% success rate and a one year residential program -we are beyond ecstatic!!!!!!!!!!! And to know Wayne, his potential for coming out of this program and taking the gospel to the world -there really is no limits. He went in knowing the love of Christ at work in his life and we can only imagine, what he'll do when he gets out.

On the drive out (I was the fortunate one to get to drive Wayne out to Winfield) we got to see this beautiful sight...

He wondered how anyone could take in the beauty of the Okanagan and deny the existence of God. (I shared the sentiment) Amongst other things, we talked about God's plan for his life, the spiritual gifting that he's been blessed with and the fears that came with making this choice.

As I gave him a manly hug goodbye, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time.

Giddy.

Wayne, you're in our prayers, we know that God is going to work a wonder in you. We can't wait to hear of your progress and see you again someday soon!

It Is The Best of Times and the Worst of Times...

Some people write better than they live; others live better than they write. Jeremiah, writing or living, was the same Jeremiah. This is important to know because Jeremiah is the prophet of choice for many when we find ourselves having to live through difficult times and want some trustworthy help in knowing what to think, how to pray, how to carry on. Jeremiah's troubled life spanned one of the most troublesome periods of in Hebrew History, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And Jeremiah was in the middle of all of it, sticking it out, praying and preaching, suffering and striving, writing and believing.
-Eugene Peterson 'Intro to Jeremiah from The Message'


Desperation does strange things to people. All around us, it seems we are surrounded by utter desperation that manifests itself in so many different ways. Pain and suffering from hurts so deep, that only a quick snort, sniff or puff will bring a release from -if only for a short little while. Pretty heavy stuff, but when you've experienced abuse, death, murder, rape, assault -does it make sense? And why does it consume us the way it does, I'm not totally certain. You could ask, how could it not? I often wonder why I've been called to this work when so often I feel so ill-equipped to do anything about it. Why does such evil exist in this world?

Lately these days, I've been feeling less a loving compassionate person, than a police guard.
Yes, we need to be vigilant in the line of work we do, we can't just let those that would, do as they please -freely dealing and ingesting as much drugs as they please, on our watch no less?

Does this mean we are in the right place at the right time? That without these things, suffering, hopelessness and despair, that God could not show us his Glory -our faith, responsibility to love the unloved, to feed the needy and hungry, to show compassion and care to the orphans and widows -perhaps it shouldn't grieve us so to know that we are in the heart of a battle that we know we have victory in and that was never in doubt.

I used to be such a normal, easy going and light-hearted guy.
I think I still am :)

Writing When I Have Nothing to Say...

So it's been about a month since my last post (sorry about that, I guess the rage needed some time to subside I think :)
Sadly, not much has really changed here in our quiet little town... We are still without a shelter, (and perhaps for quite some more time) our homeless have still be sleeping God knows where, having to do unimaginable things to get by, but hey we bought a new condo!
I know I shouldn't feel guilt about such things... Because God wants to bless those that are obedient to him and for us all to have life to the fullest right!?!

Having gone through the process, it really boggles my mind -the basic cost of owning your own place. Why it needs to cost so much to have something, that I guess we all just take for granted and yet most of us can't afford -without much pain involved. Surely anything worth having must cost us something right?
I know this isn't really making a lot of sense. Perhaps someday someone more intelligent can explain it to me, or maybe someone with a bigger bank account...

And the stupid thing is with all these important happenings happening, my thoughts are consumed by this little story I came across this weekend...
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=72750eb6-9e27-456d-b959-6d81912fa094&k=69539

I have to admit that I nearly fell over when I read this. I mean, what are the odds of this EVER happening in one's lifetime?

That said, there's no more deserving people than all of you at Hope to have a been blessed this way and I am happy for you (and want some pictures too :)

So we continue on fight the good fight, because it isn't the worst thing to admit that life isn't so bad some days... Somedays' it's pretty great...