War Veterans Hope Centre
Donation protected
On a warm day in March of 1991, a nervous 18-year old woman said goodbye to her Mom, Dad and brother and to her relatives and close friends. She boarded a bus in her hometown of Ramore, in Northern Ontario, and traveled for 2 days to St-Jean-Sur-Le-Richelieu, Quebec.
Small town girl with big city dreams. Little did she know at the time, that the robust training in boot camp would be the foundation and preparation for her time serving overseas. Little did she know, when she joined the Canadian Armed Forces, that her life would be forever changed. Only 3 short years later, at the tender age of 22, this young woman readily and whole-heartedly agreed to serve our beautiful country of Canada, as a Blue Beret (Peacekeeper) and Military Police Officer, in the devastated and war-torn country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The year was 1994 and the conflict between all 3 warring factions in Bosnia, seemed to be at its' peak.
There was no mercy. The atrocities she witnessed as a young soldier, and the trauma she survived, would change her for years to come. Driving her jeep unknowingly in a minefield, is one of the many traumas she's reminded of every single day.
Fast forward to December 2015... My name is Monique. I'm that young woman who served in the war and came home in May 1995 as a broken soul. The traumas I experienced, the children I befriended, the babies I held at the orphanage, the innocent and the elderly I met, and the soldiers I confronted...some memories are fresh in my mind while others return as flashbacks or intrusive thoughts at the most unexpected times. The nightmares continue to haunt me, the severe anxiety cripples me, and the many symptoms of and struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are real.
I believe God has a purpose for every person in this earthly life. I believe there is purpose and hope in every trauma, in every tragedy, in every loss. I without a doubt, believe God was protecting me during the war. He reveals the purpose and plans He has for my new life (Jeremiah 29:11, The Holy Bible). After now 8 years of pondering and praying circles around this vision, and extensive therapy for chronic, severe PTSD, my purpose is now clear:
The founding of a retreat center for hurting Veterans.
As an avid outdoors person, I have found solace in tranquility and my mind is quieted when surrounded by the beauty of nature. I am on a healing journey and that is exactly my heart burden for the 300+ Veterans in Northern Ontario. I have found that the plight of our hurting and homeless Veterans resonates deeply with the Canadian public on so many levels. Perhaps you have a friend, a brother or a relative who served overseas and returned home broken.
Can you help? Any amount donated is greatly appreciated and will without a doubt have a lasting and healing impact on our many disabled and ill Canadian Veterans.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! We thank the Lord God for your anticipated generosity and gifts.
Sincerely Monique & Team
Small town girl with big city dreams. Little did she know at the time, that the robust training in boot camp would be the foundation and preparation for her time serving overseas. Little did she know, when she joined the Canadian Armed Forces, that her life would be forever changed. Only 3 short years later, at the tender age of 22, this young woman readily and whole-heartedly agreed to serve our beautiful country of Canada, as a Blue Beret (Peacekeeper) and Military Police Officer, in the devastated and war-torn country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The year was 1994 and the conflict between all 3 warring factions in Bosnia, seemed to be at its' peak.
There was no mercy. The atrocities she witnessed as a young soldier, and the trauma she survived, would change her for years to come. Driving her jeep unknowingly in a minefield, is one of the many traumas she's reminded of every single day.
Fast forward to December 2015... My name is Monique. I'm that young woman who served in the war and came home in May 1995 as a broken soul. The traumas I experienced, the children I befriended, the babies I held at the orphanage, the innocent and the elderly I met, and the soldiers I confronted...some memories are fresh in my mind while others return as flashbacks or intrusive thoughts at the most unexpected times. The nightmares continue to haunt me, the severe anxiety cripples me, and the many symptoms of and struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are real.
I believe God has a purpose for every person in this earthly life. I believe there is purpose and hope in every trauma, in every tragedy, in every loss. I without a doubt, believe God was protecting me during the war. He reveals the purpose and plans He has for my new life (Jeremiah 29:11, The Holy Bible). After now 8 years of pondering and praying circles around this vision, and extensive therapy for chronic, severe PTSD, my purpose is now clear:
The founding of a retreat center for hurting Veterans.
As an avid outdoors person, I have found solace in tranquility and my mind is quieted when surrounded by the beauty of nature. I am on a healing journey and that is exactly my heart burden for the 300+ Veterans in Northern Ontario. I have found that the plight of our hurting and homeless Veterans resonates deeply with the Canadian public on so many levels. Perhaps you have a friend, a brother or a relative who served overseas and returned home broken.
Can you help? Any amount donated is greatly appreciated and will without a doubt have a lasting and healing impact on our many disabled and ill Canadian Veterans.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! We thank the Lord God for your anticipated generosity and gifts.
Sincerely Monique & Team
Organiser
MoniquenGreg Bennett
Organiser
Burlington, ON