I believe that these few lines represent a new beginning, the beginning of my life, and if somebody wrote its story, it would start somehow like this: “Her name is Veronica, still a medical student and after much searching and reflection, finally she’s got the meaning of her life now!”

In the summer of 2008 I saw the miracle with my own eyes in the life of some guys, who were changed from their drug addiction by believing in Jesus. This impressed me deeply, to the core! Since then I couldn’t get rid of the desire to witness as many similar transformations as possible. I first got in contact with the Bonus Pastor Foundation in 2011. We fixed a date to meet. I had no idea what I would tell them during our meeting, what would be my status during the inquiry, what would I be interested in … nothing… I knew only that I had to take this step. I was practicing at the Targu Mures Psychiatric Clinic and had met many depressed alcoholics which gave me a motivation. While talking with them the desire to be able to help got stronger and stronger. Unfortunately my only available tool was listening. I realized that I had patience when I was with them and that I liked to listen to them.

I offered to do volunteer work at the Foundation, though I really didn't know much about the work or whether I'd be able to do it. It’s a small thing to say that I was received with open arms. After I met one member of the staff, I was immediately offered the possibility of participating in the forthcoming Short Therapy Program as an observer, which was to begin in two weeks. After I had arrived in Ozd to look around, I was impressed by the welcoming atmosphere at the Therapy Centre. Everybody, the staff as well as the residents, talked openly about their weaknesses and feelings. The connection which I felt during the common prayers made me long for that place afterwards.

So, I expressed my wish to participate in the Short Therapy Program. They received me with open arms again, and the fact that the staff members had trust in me and I was classed as a “therapist”, this made me happy and encouraged me to bring out the best in myself. I arrived with a lot of baggage of negative feelings from home, I had difficulties, and then, after I heard the life story of each of the participants, I thought that we would get cured together. I listened with pleasure to each participant in the Short Therapy and also to the residents of the Long Therapy Program. I was filled with happiness that they had trust in me, that they opened up their pain and feelings in front of me, even if they had known me only for few days. I learnt a lot from them, from their pains, and from their strengths. I found that these were the most sensitive and, at the same time, the strongest people that I'd ever met. Why were they strong? Because they recognized the misery in which they lived, yet they were brave enough to admit it, to realize how weak they were and ask for help.

Now, at the end of the Short Therapy Program, I can declare myself a winner from all points of view. I was healed together with the participants, and realized that if I can take part in these people’s lives, this gives me more motivation than anything else. I realized that choosing the Psychiatric specialization after my practitioner examination would be the best decision for me. The participation in the program was also the first step in the way to which God called me to follow. To put it in a more simple way, it is like I had received a puzzle as a present which had a missing part. After three years of searching I have found the missing piece! Veronica Gritto , Târgu Mureş, 6th year student at the Medical University