An old friend friend, Cyndiana, does the introduction in this video. ("STOP" - Janes Addiction) She was (is) so beautiful! We lost touch over the years. If anyone knows where she is please tell her I love her and tell her where to find me!!! :) I want to know that she's doing well!!!
SIXX AM - Life is Beautiful
Movies
Christiane F. - a very realistic movie about heroin... I don't miss this at ALL. Anyone who thinks using heroin is glamorous should see this movie. THIS is what being strung out is REALLY like...
In this scene Christiane is dope sick and DESPERATELY needs to 'get well' (she needs a fix) so she's trying to find some money...
Requiem for a Dream...
The only thing I don't care for is the unrealistic scene where Leto shoots up in that GNARLY absess in his arm...uh hello...doesn't he have any other veins???
Basketball Diaries with Leonard DeCaprio - Just saw it - he played an amazing junkie.
Television
An old episode of 21 Jump Street that my close friend Pruett was in. Pruett died February 21, 2002 of a heroin overdose. I miss him!!! He always seemed to play the "bad boy" type character - here he plays a small time drug dealer in school - he's the guy in the black leather jacket and the longish 80's hair. Read more about him in my blogs.
Pruett in the Outsiders T.V. Series
..
I'm sorry, maybe I still need to get saved - but I thought this video was hilarious. I almost died laughing!!!
I have a silly sense of humor
Books
The Bible... Let Go by Fenelon... Dope Fiend by Donald Goines...
Memoirs of a Junkie:
"Waking up dope sick, again… I drag myself to the counter where my already prepared ‘wake up’ is sitting. All of my veins are either scar tissue or collapsed. Maybe I can try one of my hands, or fingers…no, I’ve already used them all up. Out of frustration, I try my legs…and then my feet again. I already used up the veins on my ankles. The top, sides and bottoms of my feet are all used up as well, but I think I see one on the top of my big toe. Damnit! I missed. It registered – but when I started to push it in, my toe began to burn…by this time I am crying tears of desperation. I need to get well!
My nose is running and I’ve started sneezing now. Fine. I’ll just muscle it – I can’t concentrate any longer. I’m just too shaky. I pull down my pants and muscle my upper butt cheek. Muscling drugs doesn't work as quickly as mainlining (hitting a vein intravenously), but I gradually start to feel better, warmed inside and back to ‘normal’. I can think again. Pools of blood are all over the kitchen floor – my pants are caked with it – but at least my pants are black. Months before, my friend Dave had lent me a pair of black Adidas sweat pants. I’ve worn them just about every day - they’re so caked with blood that they’re crunchy. I decided to throw them in the tub to wash them. I can’t afford to go to the laundry so I toss some detergent in the tub with my pants and run the water. The water runs over my pants and almost immediately turns a dark rusty brown…"
~Laurie Ishii (ex-junkie)
Heroes
Jesus Christ and my husband, Daryl - also people who have come out of radical lifestyles and are saved, delivered and walking in the power of God and leading others to Jesus!
Laurie: Ex-Junkie's Details
Status:
Married
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Orientation:
Straight
Hometown:
Hollywood
Body type:
5' 3" / Average
Ethnicity:
Asian
Religion:
Christian - other
Zodiac Sign:
Aquarius
Occupation:
Hollywood Street Missionary
Income:
Less than $30,000
Laurie: Ex-Junkie's Schools
Bishop Montgomery High School
Torrance, CA
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Major: Relationship with God!
Minor: volunteer missionary
Clubs: In the process of getting our 501C3 and starting our own non-profit organization reaching out to pimps, prostitutes, drug addicts, gang members and convicts! I spent over four years as a volunteer at the LA Dream Center leading the prostitute outreach! My husband Daryl and I recently joined a new church - REALITY LA in HOLLYWOOD! www.realityla.com
1982 to 1984
Laurie: Ex-Junkie confused looking at the new myspace home page. I think I'm going to close my account. Posted at 12:37 AM Nov 26 view more
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!
Hey! Check out our AFTER HOURS MINISTRY onMySpace!
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 laurieish@gmail.com 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.
Who I'd like to meet: Anyone...except people who are just trying to promote some kind of money making business...sorry...or bands - unless you write to me first. And I just (11/1/07) accidentally deleted some guy named Dean when I meant to delete two other people that were the same person or had the same profile with a different name with no picture...I'm SO SORRY! I tried to findyou but I couldn't cause i didn't have enough info on you! Please forgive me!!! :(
Your Freedom & Liberty........ "Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." "Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
Philosophy, tradition, or being worldly & politically correct will not gain anyone the freedom and liberty that our Lord Jesus Christ made available to us. But when we we love our neighbor as our self, then we gain great freedom, as we in our own way serve each other as God has enabled us.
hey Laurie.. i got a new blog on my page of a unbelievable act of God in my life... u may not believe this but the fillings in my teeth turned gold at the alter in church about a month ago.... i still don't believe it or understand why .... have a awesone week!!
"Psalms 118:4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
To stand strong in this spiritual battle is our part. It is God's power that provides the victory when we stand strong. Our God fights for us.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Isaiah 48:17Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, But they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy And laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer When they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideas. They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
Please pass this along to all your Women friends and relatives to remind them just How amazing they are.
Online Now!
