Introduction
Trudy's young life seemed ruined. In her desperate situation she considered suicide. But first she called out to God. Without even knowing who she had called upon for help, He led her to a man named John, who introduced her to his God and Savior. Through miraculous healing, not just once, but twice, Trudy discovered God's unexplainable, yet very personal care, just when she needed it most.Trudy's true story is yet another featured testimony from you, the members and visitors of this site. Each story reveals a life transformed by Christian faith. If your relationship with God has made a significant difference in your life, we would like to hear about it. Submit your testimony by filling out this Submission Form.
Trudy's U Turn - From Desperation to Dedication
Hi. My name is Trudy and I live with my family in Ontario, Canada. I will try to give you a picture of who I am, where I came from and where I am now, spiritually speaking.When I Needed Jesus Most
My teenage years were very rough. I hung around with the wrong crowd and I did not know how to get disentangled. My young life had been ruined; I had chosen the broad path. I wondered what I should do next. I did not know. I didn't know where to turn.
Would death be the answer?
I was in my early twenties, living in Holland, when I found myself in a very desperate situation. I had contemplated suicide.
Calling Upon God
I called upon God, not really knowing on whom I was calling. I was not a Christian at that time; not even a church goer.Shortly after, I met a young Christian family through an elder of a local church. The elder did not know how he could help me, so he thought perhaps if I could find someone with whom I could have a social time - such as reading or knitting together - this would help me get over my problems. I told him it would not do me any good, that my problems were so big and obvious you just could not talk them away. I needed more than a knitting friend - I needed God to help me; I needed a miracle.
But, how?
So, the elder suggested I contact a family that lived just down the road. But, he said not to pay too much attention to the man of the house. He said he believed in miracles and so forth.
Ooh, ah.
That did draw my interest. I thought maybe this miracle believing man had something to offer me. I will call this man "John."
I got all of my courage together and paid these people a visit. The very first night John told me about his own life; everything that had happened to him during the war, how he had betrayed his own people, how God met him when he was working for the enemy, the NSB (translated - "National Socialist Movement"). He told me how God had opened his eyes and showed him all his wrongdoings. Then he realized he needed forgiveness and turned himself in to the Dutch government.
Finding a Treasure
John was just beaming while he told me about the treasure he had found in Jesus, the happiness and peace of mind, knowing that his sins were forgiven. I had never heard a testimony like this. I also knew that this man was not making up a story. This was "for real" and I could sense deep truth in his words.
I was "all ears" and soaked up every word like a sponge. It all seemed to sound like music, beautiful music - what my soul had been thirsting for. Right away I felt it was exactly what I needed. I envied John for his faith. He told me if I would just believe in Jesus as my Savior, He would give me faith too.
I started to forget my own problems and turned my attention to my oldest sister, who had been suffering from a mental disorder since shortly after World War II. For the past ten years she had been in and out of mental institutions, receiving terrible treatments, including twenty four electric shock treatments.
On a side note, years later while living in Canada and training in the Health Care field, I saw a video on the early days of electric shock treatments and how they were applied. The body of the patient was strapped to the stretcher. Electrical wires were connected to the patient's body, mainly to the head. Once the electricity was turned on, the body started to shake violently, so much so that if the body was not strapped down it could jump off the stretcher.
Needless to say, I felt awful about what my dear sister had gone through. I cried and cried, also because I remembered how she had cried. When she would go for the treatments, she begged my parents, "No, no, please! No electric shocks."
