Melba's Story

"I was 76 years old when my bank manager suggested I contact Christians Against Poverty (CAP). I had worked hard all my life but found myself in severe debt after helping out my family.

I truly felt that I didn’t have a life - I was devastated and destitute, with nothing to look forward to and believed I was nothing.

With the help of CAP, I started to get on top of my problems and I realised that I was actually as good as anybody else – I may not have been better – but I was as good!

It was going to take me four years to pay back my debts – by that time I would have been 80 – and it was suggested I go bankrupt.  That wasn’t an option for me so I decided I would continue working as a cleaner because it was my debt and I was determined to repay the money I owed.

Along the way to becoming debt free, there were some difficult times. I had a serious car accident in which my car was written off, which meant I had to walk to work at 3am through winter. Later I came down with pneumonia and the x-rays showed that I also had cancer in my lung – even though I had never smoked! This resulted in the removal of most of my left lung. I had 4 weeks off work but was determined to get back to it. I had been working for the same employer for 27 years but was still a casual, which meant I wasn’t entitled to any sick pay or long service leave, but CAP gave me the backbone I needed to speak up for my rights.

CAP has helped me in every area of my life.

I am now debt free and have the wonderful support and friendship of everyone at CAP and the church. I have  recently committed my life to Jesus and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am special and that Jesus loves me just the way I am."

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