Both my parents received the Holy Spirit before I was born and therefore I have always felt the presence of God in the life of my family. However, it took me a while to open my heart to the Lord. Somehow I thought that when the Lord comes back, my parents will have to take me with them because I was just a child.
When I started high school, I made new friends and I told them about my faith. I always knew what was right, but I just couldn’t take that step towards God for fear of not walking the right path with God.
In 2010, I went to a kids camp from our church in Australia and finally decided that I also wanted to be part of God’s family. I then received the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues. Two weeks later I was baptised by full immersion in water. That was wonderful, because since that moment my name is also written in the book of life.
When the school holidays were over, I told my friends what had happened. At first they were interested, but then they didn’t want to talk to me anymore. I handed this problem to God and He answered my prayers because in 2012, after I showed her the scriptures from the Bible, one of my friends asked me if she could come to a meeting. This friend’s name is Kathrin and a few weeks later she also received the Holy Spirit and was baptised. After a short time, her entire family also came to the Lord. Since then we have some young adults in the assembly here and this good friend has become my best friend.
The Lord intervened when a problem occurred while I was still in Mum’s womb. The day before I was born, I still hadn’t turned and the doctors expected complications with the birth. However, Mum prayed and read the Bible that night. The next day I had completely turned. The doctors thought it was impossible, but with God everything is possible.
So many things have happened in my life where I could see and feel the presence of God and His power. I thank God every day for what He has done for me and for the entire assembly here.
Every day I see God’s presence in what I do, His power and His love. It wasn’t always easy to distinguish myself from the world but it doesn’t matter if we are popular or what others think of us, all that matters is being able to walk with God!
Miriam – South Tyrol
