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I was once lost but now<br />
i am found<br />
Maima Katonibau<br />
In August 2008, I was diagnosed with severe depression. Since then every day is “different, worse, bad and even suicidal. I lost<br />
count of how many times, I was admitted into hospital for suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide and I even had police come to<br />
my house far too many times.” My mental illness affected my marriage so bad, myself and even my connection with God. I have<br />
done bad things, unforgivable and unforgettable that it led me to seek help. The doctor’s prescribed depression medication to<br />
control my anxiety and depression.<br />
For 10 years I was suffering from mental illness. Being on 3 different depression medications for so long plus sleeping pills and<br />
pain killers. Without all the medication I could not function for a day. I was so hard to deal with. I was seeing a psychologist,<br />
psychiatrist, and other different therapists but nothing helped me. I had run out of options and I didn’t know what else to do, until<br />
one day, I had hit rock bottom - my worse day ever. All I could think of was for the pain to disappear. I wanted to live. I knew I<br />
needed to go somewhere and to be alone. I rang Cedarvale Health and Lifestyle Retreat and my first point of contact was Narelle<br />
on the phone – a positive call. Another phone call from Julie convinced me I needed to go.<br />
On 24-29 February <strong>2019</strong> I was a guest at Cedarvale. Cedarvale Health & Lifestyle Retreat has changed my life completely; and<br />
this is not only personal but also in my spiritual walk with God. I did not have any expectation when I first arrived at Cedarvale.<br />
But what I learned within one week and took away from Cedarvale was very unexpected. From the day I walked in until the day<br />
I walked out, my experience was far beyond anything that anyone had ever done for me, except my husband. The hospitality<br />
was great. It is so warm and welcoming and even felt like a family too. The program, food and especially all the treatments were<br />
beautiful.<br />
I felt like I was guided to Cedarvale for a reason. My mental illness had been a debilitating problem for more than 10 years. I was<br />
addicted to medication to survive and now I’m free.<br />
Going to Cedarvale has opened my eyes so wide and now I see what was missing in my life all these years, GOD. I am so happy<br />
that the Cedarvale Team introduced me to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Bowral, where I have been attending each week<br />
since March. I have never felt so happy and excited to attend the sabbath program every week. Everyone is welcoming us with<br />
open arms. Only just last weekend my son and I attended the Bowral church Family Camp at Burrill Lakes. We were so blessed to<br />
be part of it. It was so fun and enjoyable. Without God my life will never be complete. I was so lonely, but now I’m not, everything<br />
is possible with God. I am happy, I am free from negativity and evil.<br />
Words can’t express my infinite gratitude to each and every one of you at Cedarvale, especially to Julie. Thank you for all the encouragement<br />
and everything you did for me. I am medication free. Determination, Motivation, Inspiration and Encouragement<br />
with the power of my silent prayer, this is me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind and now I see.<br />
Cedarvale is a Live-in Health Retreat who utilizes an evidence-based<br />
Lifestyle Medicine approach to support and empower people to make simple<br />
changes to their lives – and often for eternity, as in the case of Maima.<br />
What a privilege we have as a team to be a part of the gospel in action. Visit<br />
us in person, or visit our website here at www.cedarvaleretreat.com.au and<br />
also visit our Medical Missionary Training School website at:<br />
www.cedarvale.org<br />
- Julie Higgins RN FASLM, Director of Health.<br />
8<br />
<strong>June</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | IMPRINTmagazine