03/05/2018
This is my story
For a long time in my life I struggled with various personal issues from my childhood, the likes of rejection, doubt, unbelief in self, anger , bitterness, unforgiveness, loneliness, anxiety - the list goes on and on. Like many people I felt alone for most of my life. It's the worst feeling in the world when you feel alone and have no one to reach out to you because your too scared people will judge you or what they will say over you. Which lead me to cover up pain with a smile and build a few walks around my heart - anything to not be judged/laughed at. I tried to please people to fit in and did anything for acceptance.
This is my story! I was raised by a single parent- my gran. My mother was always there but she never played a strong character role of a mother. Also, she got me when she was still very young. My father denied me; the first time he saw me looked straight into my eyes and asked for Wandi not knowing that he was speaking to me. Growing up without a father made me think I a needed father's love; so I looked for it in the wrong places. I went from bad to extremely worse in 2011. Thus, my “mother”- Gran died. Her death left huge whole in my life.
It was at end of 2011 when God’s voice spoke to me. I was never a church girl. I always hated going to church. I didn’t know really this voice who was talking to me- but now I know it was God. At the time God said "I have greater things in store for you- greater plans for your life!" The following day I knew things had to change. I then told my mother I need to change school and asked that she put me in boarding school. She refused to even hear anything concerning boarding school. I didn’t stop trying. I was so desperate to change my environment I literally googled possible boarding school and when I found one, I went back to her. I told her I want to go to Girls High [PMB] and she said NO! At that time, the year was nearly over and no applications was done for the following year. I then downloaded forms from the net Wartburg Kirchhoff and Girls High forms and filled them in all by myself and waited for the school year to begin 2012. I didn’t return to my previous school even though I didn’t have a guaranteed space at the “potential “ school. For two weeks I drove everyday to PMB. On the first week, I was trying my level best to enroll to Girls High then found out it was extremely full. The second week I tried at Wartburg then on a Tuesday they accepted my application and was told to start following Monday. I had nothing - no stationery, no uniform!
But God made a way! I drove back to Durban told my mother that I got accepted then same day an application for boarding was made thus was only replied on Friday. That Sunday I drove to Pmb to start at the new school. I didn't really like mt first year in Wartburg. I couldn't deal with rules at school on top of rules at hostel!
Initially, I was attended a Methodist church because my far cousin who was also in the school was attending. Boarding school don’t have a choice if you want to go to church or not. During the course of the year I had visited CRC Wartburg couple of times but was never a full member. At the end of Grade 10 told my mother I hated boarding school I need to come back to Durban. Funny enough applications for the school coming back to Durban I did them myself also did interview myself. Being back in Durban (2013) I realised that nothing had changed. The same people I left that I thought I was going far from were still there; hence it was only a matter of time that I went back to my old ways. Two weeks later, my amazing teacher and mentor Mrs Lynn De Broglio Calitz tried to get hold of me. I tell her I was coming back to Wartburg. Cut the story short told my mother I want to go back- thank God she didn’t say no. On the first Sunday back at Wartburg the Hostel master asked which church I will go to and CRC Wartburg was called out for me. It turns out that there was a glitch in the system that change dme from the Methodist church to CRC (but I know now that It was God). I can’t stress enough how much of a mission changing a church is! From that day my life was never the same again! I was born again! Found a new family and lived for going to church. End of 2013, prefects for the following year were announced and I was Prefect for School and Hostel. Election time for Head prefect came. I never even imagined that I could be a possible candidate! God surprised me. I was elected Head Prefect for Hostel and Deputy Head for School!! God is so good! Matriculated with amazing results.
I got to come back in Durban found a CRC under the amazing leaders and leadership of Pastor Glenn Schroder and Pastor Alison Schroder! Grew spiritually and got to tell the same people I had left that God changed me and He loves us so much. Also, that it’s grace that I am alive! I know I still have lots to add to my story this is only the beginning. God is amazing and is so good! Bless you all.
Now I am at church all the time. I appreciate my pastors Ps Glenn and Alison as well as CRC family; I love and appreciate you so much!! Grateful for the vision, mandate and mission of CRC!!! Thank you Pastor At Boshoff and Pastor Nyretta!
I love Jesus, His House, and serving Him FULL OUT - because there IS NO OTHER WAY!!! He changed my life, He can and WILL do the same for you!!
I was looking for a way out and could never find it. Until I found a way through it one day , and his name is Jesus! He took me out of a path of destruction into a path of peace , he settled every storm , he took me out of hell and gave me a taste of heaven -God's love , God took all my insecurities, baggages, weights, fears, and he gave me perfect love - Jesus -the way , the truth and the life! He set me free and told me he doesn't want me to count the days he wants me to make the days count, he told me that people will hate you and they will rate you but I am the only one who can shape you and make you.
He accepted me with all my broken pieces , he became the main character in my story and gave me a story to tell. He filled every empty void in my heart that was empty and broken. He changed me , set me free, he brought me out and took me in, he said I love you even when nobody else wants to .
I am who God says I am , not who people say I am. Jesus loves you and has a great plan for your life. If he did this for me , he can do it for you. If you are struggling or can relate to what I went through and would like any prayer or would like to meet up for a coffee and have a chat please give me a shout and I'll be more than willing to help you.. and don't forget - Jesus loves you
God bless ...
