This is my story about the amazing way that Jesus has been at work in my life.

When I was three years of age I contracted meningitis and my parents were told that I had a 50/50 survival chance-------fortunately I made a full recovery. Little did I now that my nursery Teacher was a Christian and had been praying for me. Also as a child I was sent along to Sunday school, so hence the seeds were already being sown at a very early age in my life.

I was not a particularly nice child and things did not change very much as I reached my teenage years, I found myself seeking for something better in my life and found myself being drawn towards the Jehovah Witnesses, I did not attend their Church for very long so again I found myself looking elsewhere. Unfortunately I found myself being drawn towards Drink, Drugs, fighting and I also found myself shoplifting that became highly addictive and somehow gave me a buzz.

This carried on for a number of years then sadly on Christmas Eve 1991 my best friend and beautiful Mother passed away, by this time I was just 21 years old and my Mam was 44. At this time I found myself feeling very lost and alone with no where to turn to and no-one to help me, and once again I found myself on the search for something better, but this led me into the path of the Spiritualist Church, thankfully the phase soon passed.

A little later on and fortunately for me I found myself being drawn back to an old friend of mine who had always been so kind to me but I lost contact with her due to the life style I had been leading over the past years. She was a committed Christian and I had always looked up to her and she was a true friend one I could always turn to in my hour of need. But I was at rock bottom and I knew in my heart that something had to change.

18 months after my Mam passed away I give birth to my beautiful Daughter Jessica, and it was at that time I joined the Community Church in Abertridwr, were I gave my life to the Lord. In my case although I had as I thought given my life over to God, I wanted it to be on my terms and I kept thinking that I could live two lives one for God and one for me. I continued worshipping at the Church for about a year but I found myself backsliding until I was not attending any of the Services, and I quickly slipped back in to my old way of life.

Then in 1996 I met my partner Darren and a year later I gave birth to my beautiful twins Emily and Lloyd. My relationship with Darren was very much an up and down one and in a short time we found ourselves living in separate houses but I knew that I would always love him.

It was at this point in my life that I realised that I was capable and worthy of doing other things that would benefit others rather than the lifestyle I had previously lived. So I applied to do a College course which I have just finished my fourth year, so far I have achieved my Certificate in welfare studies, my Diploma in welfare studies, an A-level in Counselling and my G.C.S.E. English and I really do feel that at last my life is starting to come together.

Then on January the 1st 2005 I received a telephone call saying that Darren had fallen down a flight of stairs and was in hospital on a life support machine after suffering terrible head injuries this was a Saturday and on the following Tuesday I was told that Darren had suffered a double brain haemorrhage a collapsed lung had choked on his own vomit and had contracted Pneumonia and that he was not expected to live the night. At this point I could not even begin to explain the pain I was feeling, the next few days were just a waiting game and I truly felt that my heart was breaking.

On the Sunday I came along to Bethel where I cried out to God for help in saving Darren’s life and to help my children and me. I knew at this point the only weapon I had left was the power of Prayer, the Prayers, warmth, support and the love I received from the people at Bethel was overwhelming and I knew that God was once more working in my life. On the Monday after my crying out to God I visited Darren and while I was sitting by his bed I saw his hands and feet move, I sat there in amazement. The following day he tried to speak and just a couple of days later when the tube was removed from his throat he looked into my eyes and said “I love you to bits”, it was at this point in time that I knew God had worked a miracle before my very eyes and I couldn’t deny something so real and I knew then that I would never again shut God out of my life, not only was he healing Darren but he was also healing me, my loneliness and brokenness in fact my whole life was being changed.

Darren now is completely healed apart from loss of smell and taste, I do not swear, steal, fight, do drugs, or smoke cigarettes and drink occasionally, and I am a new person through Christ Jesus.

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!
Written by Dawn Price (Birkett)