Maria Damsgaard from Herning got divorced five years ago, and she was left to raise two small children alone, at the young age of 23.
The children, Jessica and Mathias, grew up with Maria, who on the outside seemed to be coping well. She was a strong girl, completing her education and getting her driver's licence right in the middle of that difficult time, but behind the façade things weren't going well at all.

Depressed or not?
I knew deep inside that there was something wrong, and sometimes I fell completely to pieces for a while, tells Maria Damsgaard.
When she was alone she withdrew into herself and overate to comfort herself, which meant she gained a lot of excess weight, but she never told anyone how she was really feeling.
-My mother had actually noticed and asked me if I perhaps was depressed. But I didn't even consider that she may be right. People suffering from depression were "sick", I was able to cope with life, says Maria.
However she finally came to the realisation that things weren't as good as she thought, and when a close friend was diagnosed with a severe case of depression, she could see that she suffered from many of the same symptoms.

Psychiatric Ward
In the summer of 2004 Maria finally told her doctor how she was feeling. One week later she chose to be admitted to the psychiatric ward, and was started on drug therapy. Her children were taken into care, where they remained for the next 10 months.
Things went rapidly downhill for the little family and Mathias was written up for a place on the child psychiatric ward.
-I was, by this time, sick and tired of the way things were and knew that "something" had to happen. One day I sat reading "Ude og Hjemme", (magazine), where I happened to see an article about Tabita's House,( a centre for young girls with problems.) I thought to myself: "Why isn't there a place like that for me", remembers Maria.
It is hard to believe that this is the same woman sitting here with such joy in her eyes and enthusiasm in her voice, as she tells her story.

Dramatic Deliverance
The next time Robert Bwalaya preached he asked everyone to scream out to God for their freedom. Maria had trouble doing what he said, she thought it seemed completely insane, but eventually she decided she would give it a try.
-I felt like I had nothing to lose, so I screamed out, as loudly as I could, that I wanted to be set free from all that which bound me, says Maria.
-I can't remember what happened, but I have been told it was pretty dramatic, Maria says. She explains that she woke up 45 minutes later with a fully grown man holding her left arm, chairs pushed to the side and with blue marks over her entire body.
A girl who had been in treatment at Tabita's House, told Maria that she knew of a centre where they took in women in need, perhaps it was something for her.......?

A Fresh Start
Maria tells of her decision to move to Bakkebjerg, Evangelist's women's centre in North Zealand.
-I rang and talked to the couple who led the centre, Martin and Vibeke Schmidt. We talked together several times and three weeks later I had shifted over to them. I took the kids out of school, and cancelled their foster family, where the kids occasionally were looked after when I needed a break. I also rang the child psychiatric unit, where Mathias had been on the waiting list, to be admitted.
It was the start of a whole new life for the little family. Since Alternative Summer Festival last year things have really changed for the better. Not only for Maria, but also for her children, Jessica, 9, and Mathias, 8, they are doing much better, because their mother is happier.
-Each day I'm so happy for all those things that I wasn't able to do before. For example, being able to wake each morning and feel happy, without needing medication, says Maria who is so thankful for everything that God has done for her and her children.

Can't Believe They Could Be Bothered
It has been difficult for Maria to open up to others:
-I have been used to avoiding people if they got too close. I felt that I was filled with so much, that they would get tired of me if I revealed too much, tells Maria.
-I couldn't understand that the leader couple at Bakkebjerg could be bothered having anything to do with me. I couldn't understand that they loved me despite the fact that I had so many problems, and was far from perfect.
Maria had always been one to manage things easily and it was difficult for her when things didn't go to plan, for example when she failed, for the second time, the practical section of the driving license for large vehicles.
-I had to go home and disappoint them once again. It wasn't so easy. But they just said they loved me, smiled Maria and added:
-It is a lot easier accepting their love when things go well for me. It is a lot more difficult, when they love me despite my faults......

I Don't Need Your Pity
It has been absolutely a matter of trust allowing people to get close to me. She would never have come as far as she is today if she hadn't trusted those around her. Although she was set free from depression there were still many years of living which shaped the way she thought and acted. It would have been easy to fall back to her old ways, had she not been around people who cared for her.
-I don't want it to sound as if I need your pity, but it has been far from easy, says Maria thoughtfully.
-There have been choices to make each and every day. First acknowledgement, and afterwards one chooses, to move forward. I have decided that God's word will determine how I feel, regardless of my situation, states Maria.

Dreams for the Future
Maria has no doubt that she is there where she ought to be, and she is deeply grateful to be surrounded by people that can guide her.
-My children are happy! I know that I have just begun to do what I desire with my life, she says and her eyes shine even more brightly.
-My dream is to have my own house so I can help young single mothers. Before I had nothing to give, but now I have something to offer, and I love helping others. Despite the fact I enjoy helping others, I also know that I am still in need of help for myself, she elaborates.
Maria gives God all the glory for everything that has changed in her life.
-I know that is possible to be free! Everyone around me said that I would have a breakdown three months after stopping medication, but now- nine months later- I have never had it better! Actually I have never had any side effects, after having stopped taking the medication the doctors had said I should take for the rest of my life!

Evangelist paper number. 2, 2006