Stories from our members:

When I arrived in New Zealand 17 years ago, I was very unhappy and lonely - having to leave all my family behind. Through a friend I was introduced to Care Centre which very soon became my new family with a lot of new friends. Their love and acceptance made it so much easier for me to settle down in New Zealand. Ever since then, they have stayed my friends and family and today I am helping others to face their challenges of life. It is hard to imagine what my life would have been without the input of Dayspring Trust.

 Martha

Dayspring Care Centre is a place where my daughter and I feel safe, where we have a family now - where we receive unconditional love.

 Dayspring has been a major part of helping me to stabilise and to get my daughter back. When no one wanted us and threw us on the street, Dayspring Home accepted us.  have learnt many things from the programmes, the basic needs in life that I needed to learn i.e. sewing, cooking, nutrition and parenting. Dayspring is necessary for the community, it is a pity there are not more places like it.

 (Name not supplied)

 "So good to talk to others with similar problems. Breaks isolation." Ann

 "My lifeline, support network and safe place." Michelle G.

 "Human contact. Genuine reassurance. Makes me feel special, and good programmes." Doreen N.

 "A peaceful place. I feel accepted and encouraged." Mary F.

"Though I was a stranger, I felt as though I belonged. When I first started I was a novice but now I can sew on my own thanks to the training and guidance." Diana T.

 

What our people have learned in Building Families For Life:

"I have a better understanding of my child's perspective.."

 "I have gained skills to deal with anger and conflict.."

 "I gained more skills - less yelling and smacking - more self control.."

 "I loved the personality section which helps me understand my child in a different way and how to approach him better"

 "I have a happier and stronger relationship with my child"

 "I am more able to look at what I want my child to learn and in the right behaviour"

 Names are not supplied.

 

What our people have learned in Clearing Anger Recovery:

"I'm learning to take more control of my thoughts and behaviour"

"...Think first - calm down - communicate."

 " I'm more aware of triggers to my anger."

 "I am a lot more positive and have peace of mind."

 "I'm learning to forgive those who have hurt me."

 "To be honest and not keep things inside."

 "My health has improved because my stress levels have lowered."

Our Stories:

 First of all I'd just like to say Reconnect was the "Bomb." The affirmations, meditations, discussions, sessions and home work, I have found to be very effective and profound (provided I worked program honestly, with an open mind and with commitment and perseverance). I came from a world of sexual abuse, violence, gangs and also raised in a dysfunctional family. My father was an Alcoholic. My sexual abuse began with 2 female cousins at the age of 4 then progressed to 4 males to the age of 13. I then turned to gangs, drugs, and sexual immorality. You name it I did it. I kept going through relationship after relationship wondering what the hell was wrong with me. At that time I despised God. I kept saying to myself "now why would God let that happen to an innocent little loving kid?" (I know the answer now)

Experience:Healing my inner wounded child has set me free (Freddie Mercury, I want to break free) from past traumas. I have made tremendous progress and have now experienced another level of peace. Yippee! My relationship with my Dad has become closer than ever. He was an alcoholic and I hated him and carried resentments of him all my life (32 years). While doing this program, I told him I loved him and I can't describe how much healing this has brought upon our relationship between father and son. All my relationships with people have enhanced significantly (Jesus Christ, partner and my family).The reflections of going back to nurture the inner wounded child within has influenced me to love myself and take care of my needs.I experienced love at a new level. This was the love between my mum and I through reflections. I feel now I can really start loving those around me and stop pushing them away.

I now believe in the power and the Glory of FORGIVENESS I found myself while doing Reconnect. Yeeaarh! I will nurture the inner child within and take him with me where ever I go and protect and care for him forever, for my inner child is not wounded anymore. I am looking after myself much better, losing 3kgs, I have more energy walking 4 times a week with my dog. I have cut down in my eating (eating disorder), and I now keep a dairy of what I am eating, thinking and feeling. I have been accepted into a Diploma of Counseling course, where I will now be able to help others like myself. Yeehaa! From an addicts perspective coming off meth, alias P (nearly 4 years sobriety) this program has been the icing on the cake for my Recovery.

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dayspring and Lorraine. I thank God for the work you do that not only has had a significant impact on my life, but others as well. Once again Lorraine and Dayspring Trust thank you for a life changing experience. It has changed my life forever.

(32 year-old  Polynesian)

"Before beginning this programme I knew that I had a major anger problem, which I believed I would never overcome. As a child I was severely physically and sexually abused and neglected. Frequently I was told that I should never have been born. Often after a beating I was locked in an outside wood box and forgotten about for days. I didn't receive any love and I thought I was a very bad person. Resolve has helped me to become aware of why I am angry, what causes me to be angry, how to practice coping strategies, how to ask for help when I need it. Most importantly for me, I am learning to love and accept myself as a good person. My self-esteem has improved significantly and I am able to deal with situations now in a way that doesn't hurt me or anyone else. I know that I can now deal with any situation because I have a better understanding of what to do to help myself. I have recommended this programme to all my family and friends and would recommend Resolve and Reconnect to anyone who wanted to achieve peace and happiness. I am a single mother of two boys aged 15 and 10 and my family has now become the loving and supportive family I have always wanted, and for this, I will be eternally grateful to Lorraine for creating this programme."Naku Noa. (Marta. Single mother of 2 boys aged 15 and 10).

"At the beginning of the programme Resolve I was on the verge of self-destruction. I lived my life of chaos, hurt, depression and worthlessness around drugs and people whom I couldn't trust. Low self-esteem and having no confidence made it hard for me to understand what was ppier, more gentle person to my loved ones and children. I can now trust and believe the process I have learned for making peace with my past and managing the effects of anger in the future."(32 year-old solo mother of 2 teenagers aged 12 and 16)

 

"I lived on anger; it was everyday life - yelling at my children, smacking them, throwing things around my house, swearing all day long. After eight weeks I have found peace, my house is not so loud, my children sit in time-out and my mouth isn't so dirty."(Desiree, 22, mother of three)

 

"I have changed from a victim to a survivor."(Trish, 35)