“I saw a female captain from the Salvation Army, her name was Saint Lot and she asked me if I wanted to join the recovery programme, and quick as lightning I said yes. I don’t know why I responded so quickly, but I did. Immediately I felt like all the weight was lifted; I didn’t feel the urge to smoke anymore, I felt a transformation within myself and I wanted to be better.” – Sheikh ShamshudeenBy Suraj NarineAs most of the world celebrates Christmas today; the sharing of love, laughter and the sweet indulgence of wine, rumcake and ginger beer, two men – two survivors – will be reminiscing of harsh times passed.Though self-inflicted,NFL Jerseys China, these once addicted men who claimed to have seen the underbelly of this world; its darkness, its dangerous temptations and its condemnation of all things ugly, have somehow managed to emerge from the darkness with their souls intact.Social Life Issues on Charlotte Street ,where Jeff and Sheikh would offer counselling.Therefore, their stories should not be condemned but rather, are to be marvelled at and held close to heart as the jingling of bells echoes in the background.“I used to be a junkie, a full-blown junkie! I was stink and nobody wanted me around. I use to live in Bourda Market from 1991 to 2009 as a full-out junkie. I’ve walked from Berbice to Charity just working, doing all kinds of odd jobs; cleaning drains and thing. Soon as I get my money I would buy cocaine. Walk and smoke, walk and smoke. I would sleep in the rain and people would pass by and would stare at me. I was fully addicted but deep down inside I wanted to be normal, but I was helpless…” said Sheikh Shamshudeen.Shamshudeen is a Recruiting Sergeant and Councillor of the Salvation Army Citadel Court and Executive Member and Councillor of Social Life Issues (SLI).He was born in Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, on February 6, 1968. When he was six-months- old, his mother and father separated, resulting in him moving in with his grandparents. He went to Secondary School but recalls never having everything; no proper books or footwear. Like most boys in Cane Grove during that time, he would have to pick and sell fruits in order to buy his own little things.‘I WAS ALONE’What started out as “kicks” evolved into a stone that he would eventually trip on. While just nine years old, Sheikh would frequent rum shops with his friends, purchase high wine and smoke cigarettes. By the time he got married and moved to Nevis, he was a “complete alcoholic”. It was a few years after,Cheap NFL Jerseys, when he visited Guyana, that he would hit rock bottom.“I came to Guyana to visit and I met up with some old friends that I use to smoke weed with, and we went to this place and we sat down and began to smoke. I observed one of my friends crushing something and putting it in the weed. After I finished smoking I felt this kind of high that I never felt before, so I started to chase it, always looking to find it, but I never did. I lost my wife, my dignity, I lost everything. I began living on the streets, I was homeless. My family; mother, brother; was so ashamed of me that they migrated. I was alone,” he recounted.Sheikh’s father who resided in the United States made contact with him after many years and offered to help him. His father promised to get him a car, house and someone to marry if he agreed to get professional help. Of course he agreed, and days before he would have completed his treatment at the Salvation Army, he left because someone had stolen his Walkman (small portable audio player), which held some sentimental value to him.“He (his father) promised to buy me a car, house, to get a nice girl for me to marry if I agreed to get help and I did. I agreed and I walked into the rehab. He asked me what I wanted and I told him that I wanted a Walkman and some gospel CDs, but someone broke into my drawer and stole my Walkman.It was the first gift my father had given to me and it meant a lot to me. I went to the administrator and I told him,NFL Jerseys From China, and he said that he couldn’t help me, so I was angry. I packed my bags and I left the Salvation Army four days before completing my treatment. I then started to work at a place on the East Bank and with my first salary, I went straight into the drugs yard and again I was back on the streets.I saw a family friend one day and I called out to him and I said, ‘lef something man’, and he told me that all my family had migrated, but they left something for me and it was something really nice. So I asked him what it was and he said that it’s not something that I could see, it was something to be heard; from his lips to my ear. So I ask him again what it was and he said to me, your family say that they left a casket for you so that they can push you in the ground. That thing hurt me t