Nicole finds welcome and acceptance at the Salvos
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BY NICOLE COLLINS
I volunteer at Brisbane City Temple (BCT) every Wednesday and Friday morning, helping to distribute emergency relief cards through Doorways, the Salvos emergency relief and case management team. I also help with Open House and the community meal at BCT.
I came through Moonyah (Salvos Brisbane Recovery Services), and at the end of one of my programs, I was asked if I’d like to volunteer at Open House.
The programs at Moonyah were wonderful. The first time I didn’t want to be there, but my parents decided that was where I was going. The second time I knew I had to be there. The third time I knew it was a sanctuary and a safe place. By then I was coming out of a lot of domestic violence and knew Moonyah was a safe place to go.
I had an alcohol addiction, and by the time I entered Moonyah for the third time, I was also addicted to marijuana and crack (ICE).
Rock bottom
By the time I went back the third time, I had broken ribs and a broken jaw. At the end of the day, I thanked God for my broken jaw because after the surgery I still went back to the perpetrator. I flushed his drugs down the toilet, and when he found out about that he was white with rage, but because of my surgery he didn’t kill me.
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One of the plates in my jaw got an infection, and I had to have extra surgery to get it removed. I broke down when I got out of hospital. I went to one of the counsellors at Moonyah and let everything out. I didn’t understand why I was in so much pain and that the person who hurt me was out living his life.
I came back to Brisbane and knew I had to go somewhere safe to heal myself. I phoned Moonyah, and they took me straight away. The counsellor prayed for me and prayed for me to sleep. I went back to my room, saw nothing but black, and it worked.
I always knew there was God, but never paid much attention to him. When I was at Moonyah I went to church and chapel, then I did the Alpha program that explores the Christian faith, and that moved me quite a bit.
A newfound peace
My relationship with God eventually brought such a feeling of peace which I had never felt before. I wondered what was going on and could hardly believe what was happening.
“Non-judging is incredibly important – we don’t all come from a perfect life.”
I have found that the Salvos I have come into contact with over the years have not judged or forced anything on me but have always been willing to be there if I needed them. Non-judging is incredibly important – we don’t all come from a perfect life.
Now, I would tell a person in a situation similar to mine to seek help, get in touch with the Salvos and come in for emergency relief cards. So many say they are ashamed. I tell them to get rid of the shame, leave it at the door – you’re not judged when you come through these doors. I don’t think I have ever met anyone who doesn’t feel better walking out than they did walking in.
It even overflows to my workplace – I’m a checkout chick at a supermarket. Sometimes people who are bowed with shame come in for a chat, ask for help, and I tell them about the Salvos. It’s amazing, it’s my ministry.
My life is wonderful – and there is more to come.