Greetings, my name is Yura and I would like to testify of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in my life. I am 48 years old and currently live in Israel in Beit Hesda in Karmiel. I was born and grew up in a family with a father and mother and an older brother. My father had alcohol abuse as well as physically abused my mother, me, and my older brother. This physical abuse from my father often gave me feelings of confusion, murmuring, and rebellion. With these feelings, I grew and formed into a teen. My father made an outward appearance that everything is fine as he went to work and tried to teach me how to conduct myself. Sometimes he would even sit me on his lap and tell me how much he loved me. Yet simultaneously when he was drunk, he would continually abuse us physically and put us down which would again bring out these feelings along with anger.
At the age of about 12, I began to smoke cigarettes. I even managed to smoke at home, by taking cigarettes from my own father. He didn’t really forbid me, and therefore I did whatever I wanted to. In this, I felt that I am grown up as he also does whatever he wants. My mother on the other hand was trying to raise me to be proper, but her influence on me was minimal as I felt that she was limiting my freedom and therefore I resisted her.
Seeing how my life is turning out my family decided to send me to Israel for a better life as we had this as an option. I came to Israel at the age of 17 without my family. Life in Israel was very lonely. Learning the language was hard as well as the new culture. Therefore, I felt I was not understood and that others didn’t understand me as well. As I lived in the central part of Israel, drugs were prevalent, and very quickly I got introduced to heroin and cocaine and to people that used them. I also started to make money, as drugs are a very expensive habit. This need brought me to break the law, and I quickly felt I was a criminal and an outcast in this society.
This sinful life soon consumed me completely. I had 4 full-term prison sentences with a total of 18 years combined. So, to say I paid for my mistakes, but the prison didn’t change me. It only hardened me more with every sentence. Upon every release, I would go deeper into this criminal sinful life.
My life continued in the same way until the age of 48. My health completely deteriorated. I had three surgeries in one year. I couldn’t even stand on my feet. Yet with such health issues, I still tried to continue my same lifestyle of crime and drugs. This continued until one day I cried out with all my heart that I cannot go like this any longer. I accepted help to go to the rehab center no matter how hard it would be for me.
Here in Beit Hesda, I received and am receiving the help that needed. I am thankful to the Lord for this center and all the brothers and sisters that would come here. The center here is full of love and care, and everything is done so that people that come here would be saved and get to know the Lord. We all came from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we all have one issue and that is our lost connection with the Lord. The center has all the instruments and means to not only bring back our outward appearance but also to open our eyes to our sinful nature that stood behind all the sins that we used to do in the past. This work is all thanks to the people that serve in this center and the Lord by his mercy Who speaks to us and changes us. It was here at the center I found selfless love and care. Now after 5 months at this center, I want to give to others what I received, which is this selfless love and care.
I also want to invite anyone that needs help and salvation to come to Beit Hesda. Come to us, contact us as there is a way to salvation in this world and in the next. Here at the center, we have all the necessary help that is necessary. This includes medical assistance if needed. Being taken to doctor appointments. Also, if you need to renew any documentation, IDs, or any other paperwork. Along with inspiration and encouragement from people around us. I invite you to come and receive help. Thank you. May God be with you.