31/08/2025
My Testimony
Hello! Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
My name is Bandish Waikhom. I was an addict who had lost all hope in life and living in streets. But now my life fully changed in Christ and living under the grace of God, our Father. As I was growing up, I saw those who were senior to me using drugs and enjoying their life at their best. I found it very amusing and attracted towards them and their lifestyle. I began to imitate them and started smoking and chewing to***co as a fashion. I even searched for the drugs they were using and found out that it was pills. I decided to have a go at it as soon as I get a chance. But I could not really sort out how to get it though.
One day, I found some leftover pills in my uncle’s pocket accidentally. Immediately I took it but I could not really feel its kick nor its reaction. Later, I got close with some of my local hustlers and asked if I could have a taste. At first, they were reluctant to give me but I kept asking them aggressively. At last, they got tired of it and gave some to me. And so I started using drugs at a frequent level. Now I began know more peddlers and hustlers and started dealing with them directly. I was an active user by this time and in no time I was a addicted to pills on a serious level. To get rid of my addiction, my family sorted out to idolatry and all kinds of practices. I went to many priests and astrologers, wore many chains and stones, did many pujas just to let my addiction go but it did not. I tried closing myself inside my room and told my parents to lock from outside but that did not work either. I just could not stop using. My grandfather once locked my feet in chains at home. Even that could not stop me. My family then suggested me that I should get married. Maybe my ideals will change once I have a family of my own. But even if I had a baby daughter of my own, guess what, I started using again.
My family, frustrated, then decided to put me in jail. It didn’t stop me though. I started using once I got out of prison. And yes, I tried geographical change too. They sent me to another place hoping I would change but it backfired on me. It became more easier for me to use more openly and freely, out of parental supervision. During these course of time, my health became worse day by day. And at last, I asked my mother to send me to a rehab facility. Deep inside I wanted to get better but I just didn’t know how to. I stayed in a rehab facility for 8 months for the first time. But once again I ran away from there started using again. In no time, my reputation preceded my actions. I went to countless rehabs, upgraded myself to higher drugs, even started using inside rehab facilities. There was literally no way in my mind to stop this madness. I started stealing things from home and neighbours and sold them to get my dose. No surprise they kicked me out and had no place to stay at this point. I was homeless by now and my life was basically like a scavenger. I was sleeping at roadside in carton box instead of a bed. I was surviving on a meal for Rs.20 only and I was drinking water out of litter bottles. My life was basically a hell at this moment.
Deep inside, I wanted to get better and get rid of this awful life. God saw and He made it come true. It was a time when police were chasing addicts and locking up. One day, some people came up to me asked if I want to get treatment. I obliged immediately as per my condition at that moment. I was totally unaware of the name or the type of rehab I was getting in. Then, God brought me to a place called Restorer Home. A place where my life would totally change. It was like no other place that I have been before. From the start of the day, I heard worship songs all over again. It reminded me of the times when I heard it during my prison days. One day, I was touched by the Holy Spirit during a worship session. I was in a severe physical state and yet all my weakness blew past and I gave my all to the Lord that day. Also the classes helped me a lot. I was yet reminded again about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 and that of the potter’s house in Jeremiah 18. It became more sure that there is a God who loves for who I am. I committed myself to the Lord and decided to be baptised. I talked to my Pastor about it and he made it possible. I am very grateful to him for that to this very day. I started reading Bible and learning more about God day by day. From this point on, my life started recovering. A new path, a new direction and a new life that the Father has bestowed upon me.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says “I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a good future.”
God’s word is living and working. I’ve never believed it nor tried to find it if it’s true or not. But when God works in us, there is no denying or running away from it. I have experienced it first hand in my very own life. I had no idea God will open a door for me to do His will for people just like me. I was staying my first 7 months at Restorer Ministry just to get rid of my addiction and nothing else. But I had a constant fear in my heart that what would I do when I got out of there. My stay in that ministry was a part of the Mercy ministry, where people like me who does not have anyone are being treated free of cost. I am very grateful to God and also the ministry for this act of kindness. Now there came a question that what would I do after getting out of here. I had no plans, no strategy whatsoever. So, I start praying to God to give me wisdom and revelation to know my calling and the way I should go. After a month, an opening came for a staff in a rehab facility at Saikul. They suggested me to take that job if possible. But it got a wild turn when I started using drugs again, that too inside the rehab. Guess it is not always a smooth road for me. I felt too embarrassed to stay in the rehab and I felt leaving was the answer. Pastor Raaj Lou,my spiritual father, called me for counselling and told me to confess my sins once and for all. After that, I started working at the facility at Saikul fulltime starting from 10th February, 2019. My life as a minister of God just opened up for me like a fire after that. I was just a guy trying to get rid of my addiction but God had other plans for me. And His plans are always higher than the own we think of. I started reading the Bible very hard and praying harder so that I can lead the people who are entrusted to me.
Scripture says in 2Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, then he is a new creation. The old has gone and behold, the new has come.” All of my old self – the one whose life was using drugs only, the one whom my family or society hated, or the one who had no hope in his life. Now I am no more of that person. I repented and dedicated my life for Christ for eternity. It is He who lives in me now and my passion is to work for Him and His will only. I am now blessed with a family, a very loving wife and a cute daughter. He is using me as a testimony to many people. People can witness the grace and the love of the Father through me and the things He had done for me. Indeed I serve a living God. And His mercy and goodness shall follow me all the days of my life.
In Jesus name. Amen.
