84544323

700 Club Interview
http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Laurie_Ishii0306 07.aspx
When Daryl (my husband) and I met...
Hi! My name is Laurie. It is only because the grace of God that I am still here - alive, walking and breathing. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in the South Bay, Torrance. I grew up in an upper middle class family, and I had every material thing that a child could want. But all I really wanted was my parents acceptance. I am Japanese and Filipino and my parents were very strict. I believe that was part of their culture. My father was very much a disciplinarian, and physically abusive.
By the time I was in Jr. High School, all of the other kids at school were drinking, smoking, and having sex... or at least they gave the impression that they were. I remember going to parties and sitting by myself, watching people act stupid when they drank too much. I didn't care to participate in the things they were doing, just watching them was entertaining enough for me. I wanted to be different; I didn't care to do what everyone else was doing. I was a pretty obedient teenager, until my parents sent me to Catholic High School, which I thought was a punishment. My parents suddenly got religious, making me go to church and get baptized and take Holy Communion.
When I was growing up, I was angry, but still obedient, still wanted to please my parents. When I went to Catholic school, I became openly rebellious. The first time I ever drank, smoked, and even did cocaine was in Catholic High School. My cocaine dealer sat behind me in Religion class. By the age 16, I was institutionalized at Del Amo hospital by my parents after a friend and I stole a car and I overdosed on sleeping pills. I had met a lot of kids at Catholic school who were from Carson, and many of them ran with some Filipino gang members. I began running with a gang, and stopped going to school, stole a couple of cars, saw a bunch of people shot, even killed, and I was institutionalized for seven months. Once I got out, I went back to hang out with my gang friends and even got married to one of the leaders, at only 17 years old.
By the age of 20, I had been shot in a drive by shooting with a 38 caliber pistol; the bullet went through my left arm, side, liver lung and diaphragm - at (of all places) a Catholic church! Long story short - a rival gang was at the church having a wedding reception...
Drugs had already become a priority in my life, so I picked up where I left off before I went in the hospital. I found a way to leave the gang, got a divorce and was hanging out in Hollywood dealing and doing drugs. I got pregnant from a drug deal and began trying to get an abortion. Long story short, I ended up not being able to get an abortion and by five months, decided to go through an adoption agency and went through the pregnancy. After this, I was married again to another man, went to beauty school and got my cosmetology license. I got a job as a stylist at a great salon in Santa Monica, and after time, built up a clientele, and then I found out I was pregnant. I was upset; my career had just started to get off of the ground! (I was SELFISH.) But I had my son and loved him so much. After I had him, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia... and my doctor prescribed me narcotic pain pills, Vicodin, and Soma, (a muscle relaxant) because after I had my son, I was in continual pain. Of course, I began to abuse the pills, hustling the doctor, having about five doctors after a while, and pharmacies all over town.
I started hanging out with some of my co-workers at the salon, going to the bar, drinking along with the pills, and one night, my husband told me that he was leaving me and taking my son with me. I was so drunk when I'd come home, he'd practically have to carry me to bed. I didn't blame him for leaving me. I left that night, went to a cocaine dealers house and stayed with him for a while. Before long, I started doing heroin, and got strung out (totally dependent on heroin and would get sick if I didn't do it). I stayed up doing dope, smoking crack one night and had to go to work dope sick (I didn't save a "wake up" for the morning) and my boss fired me because he thought I was on drugs. My world had turned upside-down. I was in so much pain, (emotional, physical and spiritual), didn't know how to deal with my circumstances, and hated myself for leaving my son. I could not stand being sober for even a few hours. I soon began to prostitute to support my habit.
I had already tried to commit suicide by slicing my wrists and overdosing, ending up in the hospital too many times to count, 5150. Finally, I decided that if I could get up the guts to jump off of the roof of my 8 story apartment building, it would be a sure thing to end end my pain. I was already on anti-depressants, diagnosed bi-polar, suicidal, depressed, etc. It wasn't taking away any pain, even the dope wasn't working anymore. One night about nine years ago now, I took 15 Kolonapins, shot a bunch of speedballs, and jumped off the roof of an 8 story apartment building. I hit a tree before I hit the ground, which broke my fall. But I still landed on my head and cracked my skull in three places. I was brain damaged, and had to learn how to read and write all over again.
The hospital had me on methadone while I was there, so I was still strung out when I got released. I didn't have an ID so I wasn't able to get methadone at the clinic. I just ended up getting dope, like I was used to. I tried to kick again by going to a women's Home in Pasadena. While kicking, I started hearing voices telling me to jump because I was stupid and didn't deserve to live... and before I knew it, I jumped out of a second story bedroom window. I broke my back and was in the hospital again. By the time I was released, I couldn't prostitute anymore with a full body cast (well, I could - but it was pretty awkward lol) so I began pan-handling money on the street. Eventually, I ended up on Skid Row downtown. That is where I came to the reality that I would die there if I didn't do something drastic.
I can remember exactly where I was staying when I heard the Lord speak to me, firm and clear: "Laurie, you are going to die a junkie out here - anonymously - if you don't turn around and serve me." When I heard "anonymously" I checked my pockets and realized that I didn't have my ID on me and panicked... and ended up going to a women's home in OC.
I got clean there, and after 8 months, I went to the LA Dream center, where I went through the BADD (Born Again Delivered Disciples) discipleship program for 14 months, and after I graduated I continued to stay there for almost two more years, before I married, my husband Daryl. I'll now be clean for eight years as of March, 9th 2008.
Daryl and I now have a ministry where we reach out to both pimps and prostitutes, drug addicts, the homeless and whoever doesn't know Jesus! We love God and love people too! I served for four 1/2 years at the LA Dream Center, Daryl for two. We are now serving at Reality LA church in Hollywood.
The reason I say Ex-Junkie instead of "recovering heroin addict" is because I AM recovered - I am a new creation in Christ and Jesus has totally set me free!!! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things are new!" (2 Cor.5:17) When He saved me, He gave me a new Spirit - His Holy Spirit! This is why I am able to walk in freedom - because Jesus lives inside of me! :-)
If you'd like to read a more detailed testimony, go to my blogs - or to hear me speak on the internet go to www.realityla.com in the teaching section December 10, 2006
I am so grateful to Jesus for everything He has done and continues to do in my life and the life of those around me. He is my everything and I am so in love with Him! If He can change me, He can change anyone... I have had some people (who don't know Jesus) tell me that I did it and that it's all because of me and because I am strong, etc.- but I just need to say that yes, it took me to make the decision to want to change and completely surrender my life to Jesus. But it is ONLY because of HIM that I have been able to carry that decision out, and He will be the one to bring it to completion. I have tried SO many times to get clean on my own. I have been in rehabs so many times, been court committed to rehabs so many times - some of the best ones - and I was unable to get clean. It has only been because of my real, PERSONAL relationship with Jesus that I am able to not just get clean, but STAY clean.
Today, my desire to obey God comes from my LOVE for Him - the realization of His love for me... I am so grateful for Jesus and for what He did for me, dying on the cross for my sins, taking upon Himself the punishment that I definitely deserve. Jesus' love is AMAZING. :-)
I have a web site - www.laurieishii.com feel free to contact me... and hey - Christian brothers and sisters!! Please pray for the people on my pictures and top friend's list - I rotate them around to keep them in prayer for their lives and their ministries or for some - their SALVATION!
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Hey! Check out our AFTER HOURS MINISTRY on MySpace!
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS...
The next class will be on December 9th at 2pm, at Reality LA Office. because of the holidays - write me for more information.
Hosted By: AFTER HOURS MINISTRY - Laurie Ishii and Daryl Bargy
When: The last Sunday of every month at 2:00 PM
Where: REALITY LA church office 7127 1/2 Sunset Blvd. (and La Brea) Los Angeles/Hollywood, CA 90046 United States
Description: Informative class on pimping and prostitution, 'the Game' and how to reach those who are in the (Game) lifestyle. Anyone (over 18) is welcome.
Please RSVP - contact Laurie at [email protected] to get more information.
You Are 88% Brutally Honest
The truth hurts, especially when it comes from you.
You don't mince words, and you probably take this result as a huge complement. How Brutally Honest Are You?

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