“My name is Thembisile Mthembu, a 41 years old woman. I grew up in a good family fostering and nurturing me in every possible way. My mom and dad provided everything for me. I completed school at St Michaels where I did very well and got a scholarship to study in America. In 1995 I went to America where I had a wonderful life. I got married and gave birth to three children. Everything was great but unfortunately in 2005 my husband and I divorced due to our personal problems that we both failed to deal with.
Our divorce really broke me apart, I was hurting emotionally and I was looking for something to fill the emptiness I felt inside. Darkness captured me and I needed something to take the pain and brokenness away. I would go out with friends after work to have some drinks and smoke…That was when I started taking marijuana then cocaine which eventually led to me taking crack cocaine. My children were now staying with their father because I had no time for them. I was too busy trying to find comfort in the wrong things. I then realized that my life was going down the drain; so I called my mom in Swaziland to tell her that I was coming home, in 2010 I came back home to Swaziland.
How I wish I could turn back time. When I arrived home I found all my friends of the same age much further advanced in life than me. This did not feel good so I decided to run away from home. I stayed with my friends, drank and smoked more. Still lost in the darkness not seeing the light, I was then brought to Elusitweni the Women’s Rehab Center in 2012. I did this to basically please my parents and that is why I didn’t do well in the program. I was lost in my pain, looking at the mirror and not knowing what to do with myself because of the confusion that was blocking light to my life. My life was getting worse and I really needed to change and so last year I decide to go back to Elusitweni. When I got there I opened my heart to God so he could cleanse me and work his mysteries in my life. I told myself that I was giving everything up to God because there was no way I could have quit drugs on my own.
I am in the process of healing, just like we all are. So far everything is good, my family visit me and my children too. I have realized that in life you can have everything but without God, who is merciful and gracious, it’s all useless. My life is completely changed, I am a new creation”.
