Salvation

As a young child being brought up with the Word of God I gave my life to the great Shepherd and asked Him if I could be His sheep? There was a picture with a Shepherd, who had such a gentle face, I felt drawn to this Man. Who was this man holding a little sheep with such gentleness? I said yes to the Lord at an early age.

During my High school years in Holland I was part of a little singing band and enjoyed music. After Finishing School and working as a secretary in the town hall for the mayor I set off to England to study languages. It was in London that I had a real experience of meeting the Man of the picture I saw as a child, the Shepherd: Jesus, the Son of God.

Some of the students prayed to Him and got straight answers to their prayers. The moment I tried this too He appeared to me and He accepted me as I was. From that time on I believed that the Bible was a true Book and inspired by the Holy Spirit. I had a hunger for the Word of God and studied part-time at London Bible College. It was here in London, that my life changed drastically and I could love my enemies. Who were our enemies? We are ourselves our biggest enemy and we need to be born again and be set free.

Our enemies in Holland were the Germans, who had killed many friends, family and my sister Jenny. She just died shortly before her wedding. Her wedding dress was ready and she never wore it. How could I forgive? As I heard Corrie ten Boom speak about that forgiveness and Love I knew that perfect Love casts out all fear. Corrie ten Boom knew my dad and she visited us later in London and Germany. She became my spiritual mentor. Once she invited us for lunch in a little restaurant in Holland and said: It does not matter how much you have studied, but it matters how big your heart is. Do not be like the animals. They have 4 legs and have to look down. You have two legs, so you always must look up.

My husband is German and I know that I forgave the Germans after my commitment to the Lord. My parents were not very happy in the beginning having a German son-in-law, but seeing that he was a minister they gave in. We met as I was preparing to go into the mission-field to Brazil to teach the Indians. He was trained to do that too. I learnt to totally die to self and trust in the Lord.