THE LIGHT OF TRUTH CENTER, INC.
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The Light of Truth Center, Inc.
410-496-5862
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LTC's
D-U-N-S
Number is
11-723-0198
Corporate Address
3308 Kyle Court
Baltimore, MD
21244
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Hello!
My name is Linda. I have been getting high for 15 years and have never been in recovery before. I have have been in and out of jail. I have four boys but I have not been a part of their lives.
The Light of Truth Center, Inc. has been a big part of my recovery process. They make us feel like a part of a family. They go out of their way to help all the women at the Center. They let me know there is still hope for all of us. I know I'm gonna make my recovery work this time with the help of The Light of Turth Center.
Linda
Our Journey
Please take a minute to let us know a little about yourself, how you like our site, and/or how we can better improve our services.
Powerpoint
Presentation from
our 2004 Fundraiser
When people become addicted they can feel trapped in a deadly cycle that they are powerless to stop. There simply seems to be no way out for the addict. Yet people can and do recover every day, as is illustrated in the following stories from the women that we served.
First and foremost my gratitude starts with God because through God he led me to The Light of Truth Center, in which I never believed that my recovery could ever be possible. I merely wanted to die in my active addiction. I was a very sick individual mentally. So I self-medicated myself until I was in a coma state for 8 years. I had a lot of tragedy in my life that I could not deal with; so I went into seclusion after I lost my home and children and went off to live in the woods for 4 years. Now that I am awake from my deep sleep, I don't know how I ever survived those conditions. The winter months were extremely hard on me but I survived through Gods help. The Light of Truth Center had to teach me how to live a normal productive life all over again. I was only used to living in animal like conditions, wearing the same clothes for months that I found on the trash. I let heroin and cocaine take full control over my life. My diet included a 50 cents Little Debbie cake every 2 days, because my drugs were more important to me then even eating. I weighed only 85 lbs. Now, I weigh 165lbs. They feed me very well here, most importantly, it is the love I receive from the Center, they lead me in the right direction to keep my recovery possible. I go to meetings every day. I see a counselor for mental health. I also go to aftercare, which teaches me about recovery and how to stay that way. They have the right connections to help you. This program puts a lot of effort into each and every individual. I have been in other recovery houses and failed to stay clean. I have a lot of structure here in which helps a great deal with my recovery. It is a loss to other addicts that cannot have the opportunity to cross the path of The Light of truth Center. If they could, like me, they might be able to survive and live a normal life. I am very blessed and very grateful. I have serious health issues due to my addiction but now I can face them, without wanting to get high or giving up. I just take one day at a time. I have a new family and a new life. It feels good to wake up every day normal and to be able just to do simple things that I took for granted. All thanks to The Light of Truth Center.
Sincerely, Sam
First and foremost I want to thank the God of my understanding for being somewhat in my right state of mind today. well, I have been using drugs and alcohol since I was about two years old. My mother would give it to e thinking that it was funny when i would do crazy things and fall out. I had resentments against her but i had to learn how to rogive her becase now I know today she also had the diesase of addicition. I grew up in a very disfunctional familythinking that using drugs and drinking alcohol was normal. My disease progressed as I got older. I started using harder drugslike herion and crack cocaine. My life became so unmanagble. I have had three kids in active addictionl. Two of them I do not even know. I do not even know where they are. My mother died while I was in active addicition. I'm trying to still deal with her death because I numbed my feelings for so long using drugs. I still havbe guilt and shame. I'm trying to deal with because all my never's became true. I said, "I would never get high if I became pregant." I said, "I would never use IV drugs." I said, "I would never sell my body for drugs." Well,m everything I said I would never do...I did. all of it. I've also hurt my family and cause them so much pain. I
My Story
Jasmine T.
God works in mysterious ways and you never know what he has in store for you. My education has always been important to me and after I graduated from college in 2005, I noticed a change in myself that wasn't necessarily optimistic change. School was always a scapegoat for me and a co-dependent. I always got good grades and went to one of the best high schools in Baltimore City. Deep inside, I always thought I didn't deserve anything because I didn't want to be perceived as a snob. "No one wants to be friends with a college snob who speaks good English," is what I thought.
I started drinking at 19 in my sophomore year of college. I was only drinking coolers at the time but when Homecoming came around I graduated to hard liquor. I thought it would help me to let loose and have a good time at the parties. In college I only drank on the weekends so I considered myself a social drinker. When I lost my virginity at the age of 20, as a result of over drinking, I believe I slowly began to change. Profanity was very prevalent in my daily language. I started picking up very bad habits. However, I did graduate from college with good grades.
Post-college was a realization that it was time to venture into the real world. I was purchasing my first car and applying to work in the school system. In August, 2006, I started teaching which was the best thing to ever happen to me. I moved into my first apartment in March 227. I had the career, car, and apartment and so I thought I was on the right track.
I never knew I would be the person with everything going right in her life, and would stumble upon detour. In December 2007, after my 24th birthday, I started drinking everyday; being lat on my bills and responsibilities. I couldn't accept that I was an alcoholic until October 2008 when I finally had a wake up call. I have always tried to walk in the right path but now this experience has caused me to be humble. I need to be more accepting to those around me. I know in my heart that this is not a detour but more of a learning experience. I am destined to be the best.
just want to thank my higher power for sending me to jail. That started my process to a new way of life the judge court ordered me to go into drug treatment. I decided I did not want to go back to the old people, places, and things that I was used to. Well, I'm going to call her my angel. She helped me get into The Light of Truth Center. My angel is a big blessing to me. I got the opportunity to focus more on my recovery. I'm getting to learn more about myself through the education about my disease of addicition. I've learned how to start coping with my feelings and emotins today withhout the use of drugs. I'm building healthier realtionships, especially with my family. I have a great network and sponsor to help me through this process. I have to let the addict who is still suffering know this process really works. I was in active addiciton for 33 years of my life. I never thoguht it was possible. I will have 1 year clean and sober January 28, 2009. I take it one day at a time and keep it simple. The first time I heard those slogans and really listened to them was from my angel. She really does not how much she has helped me. Thank you God for putting her in my life. I just want to let everyone know that if you want it, really want recovery, it is possible.
What The Light Of Truth Center Has Done For Me
I welcome this opportunity to express my gratitude and thankfulness for The Light of Truth Center.
I would like to personally thank Vaile Leonard for allowing me to be at the Center. October of this year will mark my two-year anniversary with being at LTC. In the time that I have been here I have accomplished more than I thought possible. I have:
Completed my aftercare program,
Completed my aftercare program, Graduated from computer school,
Graduated from computer school, Received certification as Food Serve Manager
Received certification as Food Serve ManagerAble to get my license back
Able to get my license backAnd now have a car
And now have a carWhen I first arrived at the Center, it was stipulated that as part of the program, I would need to get a sponsor. I had no idea what a sponsor was or did. Today, I have a Sponsor, (someone who guides me through the 12-step process) as well as a whole new Sponsee family (other women who are in the recovery process and also have Sponsors). So we now have Sponsor/Sponsee family day at the Center, which gives me the opportunity to be a little more approachable and open to other people.
I have also been afforded the opportunity to travel. It was a privilege to have gone to the biggest NA convention around – the Ocean City NA Convention held in April of this year. It was astounding and overwhelming to see other people in recovery from all walks of life, stages, and ethnic groups. It opened my eyes to see that I’m not in this thing alone and LTC is opening my eyes to the beauty of life.
Vaile Leonard believed enough in me to ask if I would become The Light of Truth Centers House Manager. This position is giving me the skills and tools that I need to learn how to deal with other people. I’m learning how to handle explosive situations that I would have run away from before. I’m learning to be non-judgmental. Now I stand on principle and know that with a firm hand and a listening heart, anything can be diffused I’m learning to believe in myself. .
Workshops are part of the programs that LTC offers and I’m thankful for them. Each workshop gives me a broader view and outlook on life. I’m learning to get in touch with my past, learning to trust my inner voice, learning to express myself and valuing my worth, and expanding my way of thinking on spirituality.
I wouldn’t trade places with anyone else in another recovery house at this point in my life. LTC is giving me the opportunity to meet very loving and kind people like Vaile, Constance, Yoma, (Counselor) and Natalie. LTC is helping me to fulfill my dreams by doing things I could not or would not have done while in active addiction. I’m able to see a brighter future and look forward to giving back – in anyway I can. This I have received from LTC – that each one – reach one. I’m glad to be where I am today. I would recommend LTC to anyone who wants recovery.
Respectfully yours, Christine Moore, LTC House Manager
July 2004
To whom it May Concern:
I would like to thank Ms. Vaile Leonard for allowing me to be a resident at The Light of Truth Center. Since I began my stay here, which was March 22, 2004, I have never been in such a peaceful environment. This place has given me a stable home and also allows me to work on myself. I am able to go back to school, which begins in October 2004.
This has been a wonderful four months for me. I am very grateful to have other women in my life to show me how to live and I am very happy about the bonding of the women that share this residency with me.
So again, I would like to say thanks Ms Vaile for giving me the opportunity to live an abundant life.
Kim F.
LTC Resident
My name is Lisa Crawford and I have been fighting with the disease of addiction for over 18 years. I have been in several treatment centers and recovery houses and none compared to The Light of Truth Center. I arrived at The Light of Truth Center on June 3, 2003. It is just something about the Light of Truth Center recovery house that has given me the ability to remain free of all mind and mood altering drugs.
From the very beginning, The Light of Truth Center gave me the opportunity to decide on what I wanted to do - not on what someone else wanted me to do. Ms. Vaile, who is the CEO of the Center didn't want me to work when I first arrived. She wanted me to work on self-first. I didn't mind because I wasn't planning to go right to work. I agreed with Ms. Vaile’s statement that I needed to work on me first, because every time I went to work, I used. I had to learn that it was all about change and I realized that that is where my recovery process started.
At first when I arrived here I sat still for six months. I always asked my Higher Power to whom I wish to call GOD for some peace. I didn't realize that the peace he had shown me was sitting still for six months. After finishing my aftercare program, I began a new training program through DORS. I enrolled in the Workforce and Technology Center (WTC)/Word Processing course. I completed this course on June 24th, 2004. While at WTC, I received a certificate of completion in Word Processing. I then filled out an application for the Quest Internship Program, which entitles persons with disabilities to become productive members in the work world. I am presently doing my three months internship at the State Office Building in the Health and Mental Hygiene Department. During my internship I work in two different offices: from 8:00am -12:00pm I work at the Beneficiary Administration Department and from 12:30pm - 4:30 p.m I work at the Estates and Liens Department. I am gaining so much knowledge and experience, while enhancing my skills to achieve my career goal.
I love Ms. Vaile, Constance, Natalie, and Yoma. They have all been positive role models in my life. But most of all I truly love the women at the Light of Truth Center. I have a strong bond with the women and they're always encouraging me and looking at me as a power of example. This is the first time in my life that I really feel special. We all get along great and I enjoy being with them.
You can really feel the positive spirit of unity in our home and that is what it is "A HOME". I'm very comfortable here and look forward to going there after my meetings and internship, everyday. It's a house full of love and understanding, which you don't find very often. My next major goal is to leave the house by June 3, 2005 so that others may have the experience that I have had.
Thanks again Ms. Vaile for letting me experience a truly loving, caring, spiritual, and drug free way of life.
Lisa C.
LTC Resident
