"Nine Women in a Van – and We All Cried!"
Our worker shares what happens when the message of God’s love touches hearts.
Bible studies for mothers at the day center
I have recently been inviting mothers to join us at the children’s day center.
I teach them about the Bible and faith and they have begun to open up, resulting in good discussions.
I also take mothers and children to our cabin outside the city where we hold evangelistic weekends. We go hiking, pick berries, do handicrafts, and hold Bible studies.
A conflict
In the dormitory where these families reside, one mother has a particularly tight financial situation, which makes it difficult to care for her 11-year-old daughter, Kristina. Another mother in the group, Nadya, wanted to help. Through some friends she was able to acquire a pair of pretty shoes and clothes for Kristina.
We were gathered at the day center when Nadya handed her gift to Kristina before the start of the program, naturally expecting an enthusiastic reception.
–“Where did you get these?” the girl asked.
– “I got them from some friends for you,” Nadya said.
– “Ha ha! Yes, I know, you've begged on the street!” The girl grinned. “Aunt Nadya begs on the street!” she chanted so the others could hear.
Nadya was appalled by the girl’s behavior and began rebuking her in harsh words.
That’s when Kristina’s mother came into the room. She, in turn, was horrified to witness such an eruption and angrily scolded Nadya for shouting at her daughter.
A gloomy departure for a weekend retreat
The next day fifteen mothers and I were to go to the cabin for the weekend. Kristina and her mother were supposed to come, but they announced they would not be participating because Nadya would be there.
There were nine women in our van. The rest rode in another vehicle. Nadya got in my van and sat next to me in a gloomy mood. When we set off she began to recall the events of the previous day.
– “How can such behavior and ingratitude be possible?”
An anesthetic
I listened to Nadya’s anxious story and then asked her:
– “What is always given before a surgery?”
Nadya looked at me, amazed at a question that was in no way related to the subject.
- “Anesthesia is given
before an operation,” I said.
“Your heart is wounded and
I would like to help heal you,
but I have to anesthetize you first!”
Nadya was even more curious.
– “Can I pray for you that the Lord would give you peace?”
So I prayed for Nadya. She became silent and sat by me, looking sad and confused. The others, too, were quiet and didn’t dare say a word.
“Have you ever heard people speak highly of those who do good to others?”
– “You feel bad because you did something good but got such an unpleasant reception. But have you ever heard people speak highly of those who do good selflessly? People don’t talk well of me either. I only hear them criticize me. Have you ever thanked me? I know how you feel. It is very painful.”
– “Yes it is.” Tears began to flow from Nadya’s eyes.
– “And think about how Kristina’s mom felt when you shouted at her child. That was very hard for her. But do you remember how our Heavenly Father gave His completely innocent Son to die for our sins? How bad He must have felt!”
The others were listening to the conversation. As the van was moving down the road, we were soon all in tears!
We arrived at the cabin.
– “I no longer have pain in my heart,” Nadya said as she got out of the van.
A patched heart and reconciliation
Miraculous things continued. When the other vehicle pulled into the yard Kristina and her mother got out. They had decided at the last minute to come along!
– “I wonder what is going to happen,” I thought as I carried bags of food to the kitchen. I put a pot on the stove and then rejoined the others to find Nadya and Kristina’s mother chatting as if nothing had happened!
After the meal, it was time for a Bible study. It was amazing that the lesson I had prepared was “Only God can heal the heart.” As a visual aid I had a picture of a heart with a patch.
– “The words of others are sometimes
like strokes of a sword.
A wound in the hand can be treated,
but you can’t apply a patch to the heart
as shown in this picture.
Only God can heal the wounds of our hearts.”
After God had orchestrated and prepared such an experience and lesson, it was easy to talk to the ladies.
Tears flowed from everyone’s eyes and we prayed together.
This happens when the message of God’s love touches people!
For privacy reasons, the names in the story have been changed and the location is not given.
