Before coming to the mission I had suffered under occult bondage. To the point where it seemed I had lost everything. I was unable to function normally and found myself somewhere between suicide and mental breakdown. Something however kept pushing me to seek help. I believe it was my family's love and prayers. I sought help in many places, but left disheartened. I felt broken beyond repair, but God, in His grace met my need.
Towards the end of August 2011, I reached the end of my strength. The missionary from KwaSizabantu I had met a few months earlier came to my mind, and as my last attempt, I called her, seeking help. Her husband referred me to a counsellor. The counsellor shared the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with me. He said that the Bible says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) I believed, and confessed my sins. As I did so, I felt the shackles come loose and my sin fall off my shoulders and an indescribable peace and joy fill my heart. It was as if I was made anew, a new creation.
Through the Holy Spirit, God pointed out the wrongs in my life and led me to confess it, repent from it and be reconciled to God and others. I was also able to go back to those I hurt and make things right. My relationship with my family and many others has been restored in an amazing way, and I now live a healed, joyful life in Christ.
I came to Kwasizabantu KZN in September 2011. For the first three months, I continued to put my life in order and was then offered an opportunity to help at the mission shop. After a week or so, I went to work for aQuellé, and have had the privilege of working for the company ever since.
God is still at work in my life, moulding me into who He wants me to be, and my desire is to love Him and serve Him all my life. I thank Him for this place, where people are given a second chance. I thank the mission for the opportunities given to us to do meaningful work, to have our dignity restored and become productive members of society.
Most of all, I thank God for the counsellors and co-workers who selflessly lay down their lives to lead us, teach us and help us be reconciled to God and our fellow man; especially the love and care shown to us, whose situations seemed "impossible" to others. I am reminded of the saying, "God specializes in the impossible". This is what I experience at the mission.
Estelle Willemse
Cape Town