I was born on May 15, 1948 in San Diego at Mercy Hospital.  My childhood was quite normal for that time, without any major problems or worries. At 16 my mother died of cancer, which changed everything for my family and me.  I was very angry with God.  A God I knew existed, I believed was all powerful and in my young mind, extremely cruel and unconcerned with my needs and fears.  I turned my back on God and my life began to unravel.

 By the time I was 17 I was pregnant and had to get married.  Because of my own selfishness and immaturity and desire for something I could not identify this marriage lasted barely two years.

 After divorcing my husband I moved away from family and friends to Mission Beach and immersed myself in the Hippie culture of drugs and rebellion.  At the age of 21 I was a full-blown heroin addict and my life was absolutely out of control.  Unable to stop using and refusing to get help I began going to jail and lost custody of my only child.  Without the responsibility of my child what little control I did have left completely and I became lost in drugs for over thirty years.

 After another failed marriage, associations with outlaw motorcycle gangs, time spent in treatment, jails and institutions I ended up back in jail after a lengthy run from the police and Jesus Christ was waiting for me.

 At the age of 51 I was right where Jesus wanted me to be.  I was tired, broken and for the first time able to submit to something other than my own sin, my own desire and selfishness.  I fell right into the arms of the savior and nothing has been the same since.

 In bunk 51, at the age of 51 and with a book I found on the book shelf at Los Colinas Detention facility that was donated to the county of San Diego by my step mother Kay 25 years prior to me being there God surely had my attention.  On May 20, 1999 Jesus Christ did what I thought was impossible, He delivered me from over 30 years of addiction and my life was transformed.

 Today I have been drug free for nearly nine years.  I am remarried to a wonderful man by the name of Kevin who was rescued from a life of sin and crime much like I was.  Together we do prison and jail ministry.  I am the office manager for Family Care Chiropractic, Dr. Alan Tuthill.  And my daughter that I lost all those years ago has forgiven me and is a part of my life.

 What I thought was impossible, God made possible and today I have a future, and a life and I live for Christ, my Savior.

Bette Hammang                                                                                                      2007