12 Life stories

CONTENT Forword

12 LIFESTORIES GOD IS FAITHFUL Kristīne Zonne

Introduction. Raindrops

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Breakthrough – Cynthia’s Story

A Mother’s Heart – Theresa’s Story

The Value of Life – Linda’s Story

Spiritual Battle – Christine’s Story

The Calling – Beatrice’s Story

Battle with Sin – Sandra’s Story

The Sensible Wife – Agnes’s Story

Touched by God’s Love – Martha’s Story

Born from Above – Anna’s Story

Miraculous Encounter – Emily’s Story

Wonderfully Made – Catherine’s Story

An Invitation To Be Beautiful – Lisa’s Story

Appendix

INTRODUCTION

I was 17 years old when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. It was the beginning of my journey of faith. It was like a mountain path – up and down, and up and down again. As I thought I had come so close to God as never before, the “dark valley of sorrow”

Raindrops

began. My closest family members were involved in accidents.

I experienced loss, lack of forgiveness, health issues. It went on

One morning as I was about to start working on the

for years. My mother, my father, my son were all on the point of

Introduction, the lyrics of a recently heard Christian song began

losing their lives, but God miraculously rescued them. Eventually

sounding in my mind. I found the text on the internet and tried

I got very tired of it all. After all I had been through, I had no ener-

to sing:

gy and my health was not good either. It seemed that something

It’s raining grace

was wrong. Some Christians tried to find an explanation for my

Grace is like rain drops

problems, which made me feel as if I were bad and rejected by

Falling on my heart

God. I think Satan wants us to assume that God does not love us.

It’s raining grace ….

I believed it. How could I trust in God’s love for me when my life

At that moment, the words of this song spoke powerfully

was broken?

to me. In the afternoon, as almost every day in the first part of

Thanks to these events, my former “theology” collapsed

October this year, I was listening to the sound of rain and praising

and I began to see the real God, not the one that I had created in

God, “Father, thanks for the rain! From now on, every time I hear

my mind. At the lowest point in my life, I experienced God’s grace

the sound of rain, I will not complain. I will thank You and dwell

and love. He sent two sisters in Christ who prayed for me, and

on Your great love and grace that is being poured upon me.”

I was able to restart my relationship with my heavenly Father. It

The next day the graphic designer sent me the first version

was the beginning of a new journey towards a much deeper and

of the cover design for the book, and what I saw was a picture

more personal relationship with the triune God – Father, Son and

of twelve raindrops. They symbolize the life stories of 12 women.

the Holy Spirit.

Some of them are hard to read, there is a lot of suffering and

He had been standing and knocking at my life’s door for

tears. Some have on a lighter tone. But all of them have one thing

a long time: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone

in common – they are testimonies of God’s love and grace in the

hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat

lives of each of these women, as they travel through the dark val-

with him, and he with me.” At last, I was ready to open it. It was

ley of sorrow, climb the mountain of faith, look for hope and yearn

the time when I was most encouraged by the testimonies of other

for love.

people. They helped me to know God better – His nature and

heart. As I was reading and listening to those stories, I desired to seek the Lord even more; they comforted me, as I understood that more godly people than me had experienced much greater suffering; they strengthened me with the assurance that God’s presence with those people during their trials had been as powerful as never before.

Psalm 78 states: “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds

Dear heavenly Father, I pray for everyone

of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

who will read this book – touch them, hold

Do you remember the Samaritan woman in the Bible? After she

them, lift them up and encourage them

had met Jesus at the well, she went back to the town and told the

through your Word and these stories!

people about Him. In John 4:30 we read: “They went out of the

Draw everyone closer to you, and let them

town and were coming to him [Jesus].” Such is the power of

know you better. Let the stories they read

witness!

make them thirst for you even more – the

I am grateful to these 12 women for their courage. Several

only true triune God! I pray that each of

of them did not want to reveal their real names to the broader

our lives would be a witness of your love,

public but, while talking to me - a person whom they met for the

grace and miracles!

first time - they were open and honest. They are as shining pearls on a string, close to God’s heart.

I want to thank my husband Ivo, my two children and my parents for their patience and support. I want to thank my friend Elaine Lloyd – for the encouragement to write this book. Thank you, Mara, for the editing; thank you, my countless helpers: Sandra – for the retyping of the interviews and correction of mistakes; my friends Adrija, Dace, Zane and Gita – for the proofreading and the good suggestions; Sintija – for the perfect Latvian language editing; Liva – for the translation, as well as Estere – for the beautiful layout of the book.

PRAYER

THE BREAKTHROUGH CYNTHIA’ S STORY

The first time I heard about Cynthia was from her mother’s testimony. As I began to look for stories to include in this book, she was one of the first women I interviewed.

We meet at Cynthia’s home. She is with her two daughters and two other young children whom she was babysitting while their parents are at work. This is Cynthia’s dream job. Her oldest daughter helps with the younger kids while we are talking. From time to time, the little ones run to Cynthia and snuggle at her side. Only after they have received their hugs can our conversation continue. With great joy I observe that she has so much love to give to others.

Here is her story.

Childhood My parents divorced while I was still very young. I do not come from a Christian family, but my grandmother was a believer, who prayed for us and who also taught me the Lord’s Prayer. She lived in the countryside. When we went to see her, she was very kind to us, very loving. She had a picture of Jesus on the wall in her home. That was my only knowledge of God. Later my mom took me to a Russian-speaking nursery. While I was there, I did not speak a word. This

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need

made my mother concerned, and she wanted to take

of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call

me to a doctor. However, after a month of being there,

the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5: 31-32

I began speaking Russian. That is the reason I now speak Russian

and I became a different person. I stopped listening to my mother

so well. Later on my mother sent my brother and me to a boarding

and my teachers. When my brother wanted to build a sauna in the

school specializing in music.

basement of the house, he discovered human bones. The house

During the Soviet times it

was haunted.

Now, being a Christian, I understand that more than anything else in their lives, children need their mother

was considered a good school,

Also during this time my political activities began. I sup-

and she wanted the best for

ported the idea of restoring the Latvian flag.1 I handmade many

us. Now, being a Christian,

flags, participated in demonstrations, and vandalized telepho-

I understand that more than

ne booths. I also aimlessly attended silly disco clubs and began

anything else in their lives,

drinking alcohol. Everyone was drinking. They would go to the

children need their mother. During the Soviet times there was

restroom to empty a bottle of vodka. It was disgusting. I began to

lack of food, the shops were empty. As a single parent, my mother

have intimate relationships with guys, one of whom was my first

had to work. Six days of the week we stayed at school, and only on

big love. We started living together when I turned 18. Life seemed

Sundays my mom brought us home. When I remember that time,

strange and incomprehensible to me, and I did not know what

I can say, „That was crazy!”

to do with it. Everyone around me was drinking, and the world

Such was my life between 8 and 16 years of age, when I began

appeared empty and dull.

rebelling against my mother, my teachers, and the existing system.

My dreams of a bright future were shattered when I was still

A girl needs her mom during a time in her life when she has got

young. I liked drawing and wanted to study art, but my mom took

many questions that demand an answer, and one day a week was

me to music school. I complained. I cut my fingers to avoid the

just not enough for that.

exam at the music school. I began to

At school I was a good student. I had an artistic talent,

hate music. I also suffered greatly

a great voice and also played the piano well. But when I was

from my parents’ divorce. Although

together with my mother, we constantly argued. I had a talent for

my father was an artist, I had no one

handicrafts, and I could make a coat overnight. If I really wanted,

to teach me art. I tried to learn on

I could even fix a TV or radio set. God had blessed me with many

my own.

talents.

Later on, when I became a Christian, I would say that in this picture I had portrayed my future

I don’t have much time for

Today, as I am familiar with the spiritual world, I understand

that now, but I sometimes paint. I used to be very introverted and

that the house willed to me by my grandmother was full of curses.

shy, I could not talk to strangers without blushing, but I am no

Since I was not a Christian at the time, the curses transferred to

longer that way.

me, as the new owner of the house. It was a real blow to my life,

Drugs

It was the most terrible summer of my life. I was like a

When I was 16 years old I liked to copy original drawings.

I bought a postcard with a picture of a half-decayed human body, which was chained to a wall. I drew this picture on a big poster and placed it on the wall in my room. Later on, when I became a Christian, I would say that in this picture I had portrayed my future. As I worked on the picture, I submerged myself in the scene.

I went without food or drink for two days. I was feeding myself on the picture. To me it appeared beautiful and appealing.

At 18 years of age, I left the city and went to live in the countryside. I felt I had a boring life at home with my mother. While in the countryside, I met a guy. I did not know he was a drug addict, and we started living together. Four months into our relationship, he left home one night and returned only in the morning with a big heap of poppies. He had been roving through the gardens, gathering them so that he would have enough in store for the winter.

I was shocked. I felt as if I was standing on shifting sand. It turned

zombie. I took drugs, did not eat, and dramatically lost weight. I looked like a skeleton. At the beginning I thought I would just take them for a short time, while I figured out what to do with my life, and then I would quit. I did not know anything about the great danger of drugs because there was no information available at the time.

I thought it would be the same as with alcohol- I drank some, but I had no urge to drink more.

The summer passed by, and I decided I had to leave that place. I arranged with my brother that he would come and pick me up on his motorcycle. I packed and waited. My brother understood what had happened, that I had become an addict. When I got home, the withdrawal symptoms began – when I smelled something I had to vomit, I had constant diarrhea, my muscles and bones ached, I could not keep my hands still, my legs felt as if they were being pulled out of place, I could not sleep, I was freezing. It went on for about four days, and I thought I would die.

out he had a long history of addiction. His friends started coming

I decided to go to the hospital,

to our house, and all of them were on drugs. A nightmare went on

hoping the doctors could help me. But at

before my very eyes. At that time

that time they could not do much. They

it was not possible to buy heroin,

gave me a sedative, but it had no effect.

so they made drugs from poppies.

The symptoms continued, and I suffered

I am a very strong willed

terribly. The guy I was living with came

I was like a zombie. I took drugs, did not eat, and dramatically lost weight.

I looked like a skeleton

I was not a strong person any more.

I was nothing

person. When they offered me

to the hospital and gave me drugs. At first I was happy but later

drugs, I refused. But one day I

I became angry with him. So my addiction continued for another

accepted their offer. If it had

year. Altogether I was on drugs for 11 years. I thought the problem

happened at a party, perhaps it would have been the first and last

would be solved if I could get away from this man, but he always

time; but I was living with an addict, and I, myself, began to take

found me and had drugs with him. I was not a strong person any

drugs regularly.

more. I was nothing.

The Struggle for Deliverance I had become a slave, like the one I had once drawn chained to the wall. This period of my life was hell on earth. My mother found out about my addiction during the

All the years of my addiction, she interceded for me before God

first year when she saw me in the bathroom holding a syringe and blood spilled on the floor. She was shocked. She knew it was the beginning of the end. In her despair, she began praying to God. In this hopeless situation, my mother found God and

became a Christian. All the years of my addiction, she interceded for me before God. Her prayers saved my life.

When I moved back to Riga, the situation did not change for the better. Just the opposite - it became worse, as I started using heroin. I would have no more pleasant sensations after taking drugs. They had become like a medicine that I had to take in order to survive. From the very beginning of my addiction, I wanted to get rid of it. I would take the drugs, go for a walk, cry and pray to God. Once in my despair I cried out, “God, help me! I don’t know how to get out of this!”

Every year I tried to free myself from this addiction. I stayed in hospitals, but there seemed to be no cure for this disease.

I was constantly at war with myself. My body screamed for drugs.

However, I had no thoughts of suicide, because I knew that if I killed myself with an overdose, I would go to hell. I remember praying during the last period of my addiction, “God, I would like to wake up as a normal person, without pain, not needing to steal in order to get the next dose!” I was in a vicious cycle – I would

take the drugs, feel miserable, and then long to be free from it.

Day by day I cried out to God, and He listened to me. For this reason only am I free today.

God gave me one more chance. I went to Riga after 11 years of torment. My brother’s wife was a Christian, as was my mother.

She took me to a Christian sister and asked her to lead me in the sinner’s prayer. We took part in a church service, I prayed the sinner’s prayer and accepted Jesus as my Savior. Afterward I cried for a long time.

When I came home, great changes began in my life. Yet the struggle was not over. I returned to the countryside and thought – I could take drugs just one more time. However, this time I did not feel anything - it was like water. God protected me because He knew I wanted to be free, but could not do it in my own strength.

It was the first miracle that made me realize – yes, God wants to help me. I was full of joy!

And then I became pregnant. The father of my child was a man whom I had gotten involved in drugs. When I became a Christian, I gave him a Bible and a Christian magazine, but he did not want to read or hear anything. There was an illegal alcohol store at his mother’s place, and he drank himself to death. I gave birth to my daughter Daniela, but her life was only 12 days long. I had no maternal feelings while I was using drugs, however, when

Until you leave your old life behind, nothing will change

I returned to God, my maternal feelings were restored and I loved my daughter dearly. I understood the beauty of loving my child. But one night she died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It made me so sad! I did not know what to

do. I had just found God and could not understand why He allowed this to happen. I have no answer to this day.

I went to see the pastor of the church my mother attended.

He shocked me even more. I expected compassion for my loss, but instead he just said: “Until you leave your old life behind, nothing will change.” These words were very difficult to hear. I understood that it was not enough to say a prayer and accept Jesus in my life.

I should also leave my past behind.

I came to the conclusion that I had to leave the man I was living with and also leave my house. But how could I leave the house, which I owned? I was used to it and liked it. Nevertheless, I made the choice to leave. It took me a while to decide that it was worth it, but after I left everything, real changes began. In 2000 I became a Christian and in 2002 I got married. Since that time, I have had no relapses.

There are people who do not believe that I am free from my addiction, but I honestly have no desire for it anymore. I still have scars on my arms because I faked suicide to manipulate people.

Once I took an overdose and was in a coma for three days, but God protected me because I was waiting for his help.

During the time of my addiction, I gave birth to 2 children.

They are both healthy, and I praise God that they are smart and beautiful! God protected them. While I was still on drugs, I entrusted them to my mother’s care. There are addicts who raise their children on their own, and they also become addicted.

Healing The addiction had almost destroyed my body, and it also affected my mind. God healed me completely. Although normally the damage to brain cells is irreversible, I know that God has restored them. When I was preparing for marriage, I had to do all the medical checkups. The doctor who took my blood tests knew the damage that had been done to my liver and kidneys, but God had healed them also. If previously my liver looked like a sieve, it now was perfect. The doctor was shocked.

Three years after I became a Christian, the doctors found out I had hepatitis C. Terrible news! But I knew and trusted that God would heal me from that as well. Some Christians prayed for me and anointed me with oil. After that I had a biopsy of my liver and the doctor said: “It is a miracle! You are one of the 1% of patients whose body has overcome the illness with its own resources.”

I was smiling because I knew who that Resource was.

After some time, I had to go and check it again, but I knew there was no need to do that. I believed that God had healed me completely. Just for the sake of the doc-

God healed me completely

tor I made the checkups, and they proved I was perfectly healthy. The doctor announced that I had no traces of hepatitis.

After my final return to Riga, I began to attend a Bible school and a church. My son was 9 and my daughter 3 years old.

Only then did we start spending more time together.

Present Today I have a great life – a good husband and 3 wonderful

children. All of us are Christians. My oldest son will soon be 20 years old and is going to be married soon. One daughter is 14 and the other 6 years old.

God is so good and loving

In read

the

the Bible

morning,

we

all

together

and

pray.

We have a personal relationship with God, we attend small groups, and we pray for people’s

needs and for those who are unsaved.

God is so good and loving! He is interested in all we do.

He is with me and he trains me like a little child. If I want something He does not want me to have, I don’t get it because it is for my benefit. God is very dear to me. He has delivered me from many addictions, and today I am

After I stop the dictaphone, I remain silent for a moment and reflect upon what I have just heard.

Sanita’s joyful eyes are fixed upon me. She is a bit over 40. She looks young and beautiful, her former lifestyle, having left no trace in her features. God has miraculously healed both her inner and outer beauty. The only witnesses of her past are the scars on her arms left by the suicide attempt. As to the doubting Thomas, they have a special significance to me, confirming that it is not just a made-up story but a real living witness of God’s mighty works. As I am leaving her very modest apartment, I am imagining the treasures Sanita has stored up in heaven.

a completely different person.

When I began my Christian walk and started attending church, I often spoke to the congregation. Each time I had to speak, I became nervous and red in the face. I shared with them that I had been bound and full of demons. I shared my childhood experiences and memories of my mother being emotionally and physically absent from my life, being rejected and insulted. All of this had left a painful imprint on my life. All this pain had been stored deep down in my heart, but God delivered me. When I shared my story, I realized that I no longer fear sharing it.

God has beautifully created every human being. I love myself the way God has re-created me. I love to talk to people. I am very open and have a great sense of humor, and I enjoy serving people in my church.

January, 2012

Scripture for Study

Psalm 116: 1-10 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”

1 Peter 5: 8-9 Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Mathew 9:22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Our Father in heaven, I pray for all those suffering from addictions. Let your healing power come over them. I pray that they would be convicted of their sin.

I pray for their true deliverance as I trust in your Word that those who “sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.”* Father, I trust that you will deliver those who call upon your name. I know that you can deliver all those who are bound. Hear their prayers, let your face shine upon them. Lead them back to the path of truth. Amen.

PRAYER

WONDERFULLY MADE CATHERINE’S STORY

I run into the church lobby one minute before the agreed-upon time. Catherine is already waiting for me. She is a slender young lady with dark, shiny hair and big, brown eyes. My attention is immediately drawn to Catherine’s seemingly simple, but very tasteful, bright-colored clothing, which is so elegantly matched. The beginning of our conversation is full of anxiety, perhaps because this is the first time we meet.

Strangely, I am unable to turn on the dictaphone, which has never failed me before. It seems that today it will not cooperate. Catherine is patiently observing my feverish fumbling with this “miracle of technology” and finally suggests, “We should pray about it.” And that is what we do. A minute later, I have figured out my mistake, and the dictaphone is ready to work with us. As I listen to Catherine’s story, I continue to eye her beautiful cardigan; however, a moment later I realize that her life story displays much more color.

First Childhood Memories I am 25 years old. Even when I was still in my mother’s womb, Satan did not want me to be born. My mom was forced to deliver me prematurely because she had food poisoning. In order to protect me from the poison and death, my birth was stimulated.

It was the first trial of my life, and, as a result, I was born one month premature. I had several physical disabilities, including weak eye-

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Psalm 139:13 - 14

sight and being unable to walk. I was the first one in my family to be born with such problems.

I met God at the age of four, when I had a near-death expe-

remember being together with my mom.I admire her for being able to

rience. My kidneys had stopped functioning. Since we lived in

forgive my dad. They stayed together for our sake - their 3 children.

Liepaja at the time, I was taken to the hospital in Riga by a heli-

I learned to read at a young age. As a kid, I liked to ima-

copter. The recovery process was long, but eventually I regained

gine and live in fairy-tale world, where God was portrayed as a

my health. My mom was with

little man sitting on a cloud and judging everyone. It was my first

me whenever I had blood trans-

impression of God. Seeing what was happening with my family,

fusions. If my mom had not

I was very resentful toward God. I did not believe that He was

been with me, I would not have

good, because I was born with so many physical drawbacks.

survived. She had to bribe her

My family was falling apart because it was not a family at all.

way into the hospital, because,

I wondered where God’s goodness was in all of that.

I remember the incredibly great feelings I had during my near-death experience.

I was wrapped in a warm light and felt a great amount of love

during that time, parents were

I did not attend a preschool. My parents worked hard

not allowed to stay with their

and a nanny was looking after me. When I was 5 years old,

children. Thank God, my family

she sexually abused me.

Afterwards

was financially well-off. My mom, who was not a Christian, prayed

I felt very ashamed and thought that

to God, “If you will let me keep this child, I will dedicate her to

it happened to me because I was so

your service!”

unattractive

and

because

I felt very ashamed

the-

I remember the incredibly great feelings I had during my

re was nothing valuable in me. If you do not love your-

near-death experience. I was wrapped in a warm light and felt a

self, you are a potential victim of persecutors. During my

great amount of love. I cannot begin to describe it. I did not want

childhood I learned to hate my body. I had no one to talk

to be awakened because it felt so good. Since my parents were not

to, because my parents had enough problems of their own.

Christians, they could not tell me anything about God.

I thought there had to be a God in heaven; however, I saw Him as a

Until the restoration of Latvia’s independence, my parents were financially secure. After 1990 my father experienced

judge. I also saw that some people were happy but others were not.

I was convinced that God had destined me for a life of suffering.

an extremely difficult period in his life. He began to drink and

My school years only confirmed that I was the most

became rather violent, mostly toward my mom. My most vivid

unattractive person with the ugliest pair of eyes. It seemed that

childhood memories are associated with alcohol, a sense of

others noticed in me only my unappealing traits. I experienced

hunger, and hiding in my room. I was there when my dad attac-

ruthless emotional abuse. The time leading up to my teenage

ked my mom and wanted to kill her. My childhood memories

years was rough. Every day I would lock myself in the bathroom,

are full of terror. I actually did not have a real childhood. I only

pull my hair, cut myself, and beat myself in the face. I just wanted

to die. By the age of 15 I had attempted suicide three times.

“This would be such a nice picture, if only little Cathy would not

I cried out to God, “If you exist, help me not to wake up!”

be squinting.” I know my parents did not mean to hurt me, but I

I could no longer bear it. I had no one to share my pain with, not

felt undesirable. Satan also did his utmost to make me hate myself.

even one friend. Instead, I had to listen to my mom’s complaining

My first suicide attempt was cutting my veins. The only

about how hard her life was. I kept silent and suffered. School was

evidence left of that today is just a small scar. The second time,

the greatest torture of all because I was humiliated every day. I

I tried to suffocate myself. I know that these attempts were not

did not feel equal to the others. In the cafeteria someone said to

successful because God intervened. However, the third time I was

me, “What are you mumbling there under your nose? No one can

overcome by evil and spite. I thought to myself, “Just dying would

understand what you are saying!” At the coat-check they did not

be too simple. I have to avenge myself on all those who have hurt

give me my coat because I was the ugliest person in school.

me.” I wanted to kill my mom and dad for robbing me of my chil-

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I understood that

dhood. I had not felt their love because they never said that they

nothing had changed, and I refused to continue attending school.

loved me. If they had supported me, everything would have been

I did not yet know Christ. I saw only two options – either quitting

different. Just during the past couple of years, our family has

school or dying. The easiest option seemed to be dying, since no

learned to be open about our feelings toward each other, and it

one loved me and no one would miss me. It was Satan’s lie.

has become a habit to tell each other that we love one another. /.../

I have a sister who is a year older than me. Everything always seemed well with her. Now I know that my parents loved me very much, but back then, perhaps because I was the second child, it did not seem so. The first child gets

I know that these attempts were not successful because God intervened

everything, like pictures together with parents, but not me. If I have any, then I’m squinting in them. All photos seemed terrible to me. When I was left at home with my grandparents or nannies, my sister

could

go

with

mom and dad, but I felt as if no one wanted me.

Today I know it was not true. My parents did not call me names, but sometimes they said something that made me think it would be better if I had not been born. For instance they might say,

THE ENTIRE STORY WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A PAPER VERSION.

Our Father in heaven, I thank you that all of your works are beautiful. Thank you that you have created all of us as beautiful as the most precious pearls. Thank you that you love each of us! Each of us is special and unique in your eyes. Father, please pour out your love abundantly over each of us who have not yet encountered You, but long for You. Dear Father, I pray for all women who serve on the mission field, for all those who have responded to Your call to bring the Good News to other nations. Fill them with your Holy Spirit that they may be as salt, which is not needed in large amounts, and an illuminated city on a hill, which cannot be extinguished! Strengthen, encourage, lift up and protect them! Please, prepare the hearts of those who will hear their message!

Father, may the Good News about Jesus Christ reach all people of the world! May your light shine even in the darkest of places! Amen.

PRAYER

REFERENCES

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When reading these stories, I experienced a broad variety of emotions and feelings, and I’m certain that other readers will have a similar reaction. How wonderful is the Triune God! How unique His approach to each woman’s life! How fortunate that they have not kept it to

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of us has her own burden and also her own testimony of how God has revealed Himself to us and accompanied us in our suffering. But He not only stays with us in our trials, He also carries us through them

themselves, but shared it with us, so that we might see again that all

in His mighty arms. The experiences of these women encourage us,

is possible with God. He can heal, comfort, renew, transform, find,

empower us, and reveal to us the truth of God’s Word - that Christ

encourage, care and … and… !

IS our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and

– Zane –

Prince of Peace….” (Isa. 9:5) – Dace –

This book could be twice as thick and, even then, it would not be thick enough! All the stories are deeply rooted in God’s Word and Spirit.

They made me think about my own life, and I found many similarities.

I am convinced that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, throu-

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The stories compiled in this book reflect the diversity of women. Each

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God has come up with a perfect plan for each life. It is up to us to accept it and surrender, or try to struggle on our own, which most often leads to defeat. This book is a vivid reflection of the twists and

gh His Holy Spirit, will use it for the salvation of souls, for healing,

turns in the lives of 12 women – before and after they received Christ

instruction, and deliverance. This book is about a woman’s heart and

as their Savior and Lord. The key to a harmonious and peaceful life

about God’s heart. Our hearts are so different, yet they all yearn so

under Christ’s leadership is forgiveness – usually the most difficult

much or God! He is close to us and can be found even in the darkest

undertaking between oneself and the wrongdoer. These women chose

night.

to forgive, thus gaining peace of mind and love for their neighbor. We

– Adrija –

are wonderful instruments in God’s hands, but for the melody to be the most beautiful it can be, we must say an unconditional YES to

This book is special because it contains the life stories of various women. There can be a lot of pain and suffering in our lives, leading us into despair; but God heals, comforts, and gives us a new life. Through these testimonies I gained a new perspective on God’s mighty power and love.

– Gita –

God. Then our life will become His masterpiece.

– Sintija –