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Hi. well I think you all know I'm Shaz. I've spent the past 20 years of my life in addiction. But by the grace of God and with the help of DTC I'm so much more today. I felt so lost, I did not know who I was anymore. I had known that God had been there for me throughout my life, however I didn't really know why and only ask for God's help when I felt things were to hard for me. I told myself I was a strong independent woman in my mind, why could I not get my life together and why was God not making me stronger. I constantly failed, I was so full of shame, guilt and resentment. When I hit my worst crisis in January this year I finally reached out for support. Some wise words from a special friend in my life turned things around. "You will not understand what God has planned for you if you do not seek him" I spent a week in a mental health detoxing, these same words going over and over in my mind. I was so confused and exhausted from life, I made the decision to come to DTC. I have spent almost 4 months here at DTC. The first month of my recovery was all about focusing on where I really was with God. I immersed myself in gods word, reading the Bible, listening to online sermons about God's plan. I used the daily program classes to learn more about myself and what my values really were again and how these values impacted the way I acted and interacted with people. I asked questions when I didn't understand and I became open and honest about who I really was. I took all this to God on a daily basis for understanding and forgiveness I continue to use meditation with god and read scripture.By my second month I was reigniting hobbies and creativity that had long been hidden. I found pleasure in work duties and community activities. My self worth and empathy for others was also showing. I found I had new understanding and empathy of how my own family and friends must have felt through my addiction by experiencing fellow participance through their struggles. As the weeks went, I felt the presence of God becoming stronger and stronger. The peace I began to feel was such a miracle and the shame and guilt I had carried for so many years started to lift. I believed in the possibility of a new life. I want to thank all the support staff at DTC you always there when I needed help or just needed to talk for the sake of talking. I also want to thank the medical staff for the amazing work they do and for seeing me through to a stable mental and physical state. Thankyou to all the kitchen staff for feeding me, especially Michael for the amazing pulled pork burgers. Thanks to the caseworkers for the learning and support, I know I can be a complicated yet consensus student. I want to say a special thank you to you Paula. for being my backbone here at DTC.  From the moment I arrived I loved your passion and energy, you helped me remain true to my personality despite needing a complete reset of my life. I also want to thank all the participants who many I now call friends, thank you for your love laughs and compassion, thank you for your patients with me while I learnt to be a better me. The me God wants me to be. When I leave here on Monday I'll leave as a strong woman dependant on God. I'll be able to live on my own for the first time with confidence and integrity that we're not possible before my journey at DTC. I leave here having a relationship with god, knowing that because of his presence in my life everything will be ok regardless of the chaos, regardless of difficulties, my faith in God will see me through. And lastly do not stop singing and sitting in the front row at chapel,  you might get closer to God there.