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A Chance at a New Life

Writer's picture: Moti CohenMoti Cohen

Tiferet Yeshua Congregation

Tel Aviv

Moti and Shulamit speaking with Andrey | Andrey with Shulamit and her husband

When serving homeless drug addicts in South Tel Aviv, we first care for their immediate physical, emotional and spiritual needs, then we offer to help them enter a rehab program. They rarely accept because it is so difficult to leave that life and persevere through rehab.


That’s why we were overjoyed when Andrey, whom we have known and served for a long time, said he wanted to go to rehab. He also asked for 350 shekels. Drug addicts often ask for money, but we never carry any with us or give it out to them because it invariably goes to buy drugs or alcohol. Yet Andrey seemed sincere in his request. We were doubtful because Andrey has started multiple rehab programs before, but he insisted that this time would be different; this time he had the motivation and determination to overcome his addiction. I suggested that he come back to the soup kitchen facility with us where we could arrange a place for him.  


Andrey, however, had a particular program in mind and their admission fee was 350 shekels in cash. This made us even more skeptical. “It’s great that you are giving out food and drink on the streets,” he said, “But what I need right now is money to get into this specific program.” Shulamit, one of our most faithful volunteers, gave him her phone number, and Andrey allowed me to pray for him. Afterwards I told him, “You have Shulamit’s number. If the rehab facility will contact her, we will be happy to wire them the money directly.”


A few days later we were happily surprised to receive a phone call from a counselor at the facility Andrey had told us about. He was there with her, ready to sign up. All he needed was the admission fee!


Overcoming a Broken and Painful Past


Behind every person we minister to, there is a painful story of loss, trauma and abuse. To manage their emotional and physical pain, they start using drugs as an escape, quickly destroying their lives.

 

Andrey too has such a story. He was married at a young age and soon the young couple were overwhelmed but excited to learn that they were expecting twins. Not long before she was supposed to give birth, his wife and the twins were tragically killed in a car accident! In confusion and despair, Andrey returned to their apartment without his key. He tried climbing in through a window but fell several floors to the ground and was seriously injured. Andrey went through multiple surgeries and came out with titanium plates and severe pain. He became addicted to the powerful prescription pain killers and eventually progressed to hard-core drugs.


A New Life


Almost all drug addicts living on the street suffer from malnutrition, infections, illnesses and lack of sleep. At age thirty an addict may look sixty years old. Andrey was like that when he began the program. Shulamit has faithfully visited him each week and took some pictures during a recent visit. When she showed me the photos, I was shocked at how healthy and happy he looked.


What an honor and privilege to be a part of stories like Andrey’s. Keep him in your prayers and thank you for supporting this outreach!



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