Testimony of Tammi by Tammi Esquivel

 In 1986, I was living in Hollywood, off of Highland Avenue between Sunset and Hollywood Blvd. I was living in a vacant unit, behind a flower shop with anywhere from 5 to 12 other child junkies. It was painted black inside all the walls of this shooting gallery and there was nothing nice about it.

One night, I was in the bathroom, dope sick, sitting on the toilet, trying like HELL (literally) to get this heroin in my system, arm tied off and desperately missing my veins. With blood running down my arms, holes poked in every vein I have ever used to get that demonic poisen running through my system, I got a very clear view of myself in the mirror of that candle lit, black walled bathroom. I saw a girl, a mess staring back. I saw a drug addicted, lost little girl and the reality of what I was seeing hit me very hard, at that moment.

I ended up muscle banging that heroin, since I could not hit a vein, and I went out to the street.

Crying, alone, lost and dying, I said, face up to the sky, "If you are real, you got a help me, cause I am dying now." (my song LOVE SONG is about this very moment)

I went back once I stopped crying and the slowness of the heroin injected in the muscle finally hit me, and attempted to sleep in this demon infested place. I covered my head but I could still feel them right over me. EVERY night.

The next day, I was walking out on the street and I met a young man named Hector. We were talking and in my desperation for Any one who would listen to me, I told him about my life. I started crying and you know what he told me? Hector said that his brother Oscar was a youth leader, Royal Rangers actually, at a church in East Los Angeles, and he said that they had a women's home and that I could get help there.

I had NO IDEA what a women's home was and I never KNEW The Lord, but it meant getting away from that hellhole that I was living in and I was very glad to hear about it.

The next day, Oscar and a woman named Grace from that church came and met me. I was not feeling good at all because it was half past time to cop my heroin AGAIN, but they sat with me and told me about Jesus. I asked the Lord to be my saviour, they left, I got my drugs. The end of that night.

The next day I got dropped off at The New Jerusalem Church, scared, confused, dope sick and ready for this THING to happen that was better than what was currently happening.

I had NO idea! !

I said the sinners prayer, again, but THIS time I was in a Christian women's home. You know what that is, I wont elaborate. I stayed there, grateful, on my KNEES, my FACE ALOT before the Lord, in sincere thanks, for about 9 months.
I have to tell you brother, they all were waiting for me to kick, the pastor, the director and everyone but you know what God did? He DELIVERED me. INSTANTLY. That is why my love for Him is so strong and my faith is so great. I have SEEN Him move since that time, and I am STILL watching Him! (I am recording a song tomorrow called Deliver Me)
God Changed my whole life.

and that, my brothers and sisters, is how I met Our Lord, Saviour, Jesus Christ

Tammi

Your Sister