Mikaela N

Dear Friends,

Some of you know me and what type of person I was, and some of you don’t, regardless, this is my testimony of salvation…

Growing Up in Swaziland and South Africa

I grew up in Swaziland and had a happy childhood until we moved to Nelspruit (Mpumalanga, South Africa). It was there that I saw my dad first hit my mom but he would say sorry and she would forgive him. I saw it quite a lot and also saw my dad come home at 3 and 4 in the morning drunk. I started getting very bitter and very angry and wondered why all of this was happening.

We moved to White River and my parents finally got divorced. Everything started going wrong. I was no longer happy and was angry and aggressive most of the time. So much so that I had an accident and put my hand through a pane of glass, severing all my tendons and nerves. The scar is with me to this day and my hand still does not function 100%.

Searching for Relief in the Wrong Places

I started listening to very heavy music (Metallica, Garbage, etc.) and thought that maybe it could relieve all the hurt and pain and anger I was feeling. It only made me worse. I got involved in some serious drugs and drank every day and smoked. None of my parents were there for me when I needed them. I cried a lot and just wanted somebody to take the pain away.

In all of this I asked myself, where is God? He was always there, I just didn’t know. When I think back now, I could have been dead or raped on many an occasion but I know my Lord was there and heard my faint cries. He never forsook me. There were times when I worked in Hazyview where I had no food for days but just when I wanted to give up, I would be offered a little something. He was always there watching over me.

And through all of this, there was a little voice in my heart saying, “Mikaela, you must get saved and let Jesus be your Saviour and get right.”

Moving to Ireland

A few years ago, I met a man called Phillip N and was smitten with him! He was a traditional Afrikaans boy. I then had to leave for Ireland with my father and had my heart set on seeing Phillip again.

So we arrived in Ireland with hardly any money—we had had all our family fortune stolen from us in South Africa. Hence the reason we moved. It was very, very hard in the beginning but we got through it. Nine months later I flew back to South Africa and got married to Phillip. He then moved here.

Encountering the Gospel

One day we were invited to a braai (BBQ) out in Coachford and we went to the Ballincollig Baptist Church. At first, I was very uncomfortable and the voice got louder, so loud I thought the people around me could hear it! I cannot remember exactly what the service was about but the whole time I sat there I had a huge lump in my throat. I knew I was a sinner.

Salvation - September 4, 2007

It was a few weeks after that when we were at home and I could not take it anymore. We called the Pastor (Pastor Craig) and his wife Nita. They spoke to us and spent some time with us and shared the gospel. I got saved that day, the 4th of September 2007.

The little voice is now silent, only popping up when I am about to do something wrong. Later that evening when I was alone I cried out to the Lord, and asked His forgiveness on me, such a wicked sinner, and apologized for ever doubting His existence and thanked Him for keeping me alive. That was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour and my life has only got better.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have my struggles but He is right there beside me, every step of the way and carries me through all my trials.

New Life in Christ

I am very happily married and live in Ireland still, and have a 16-month-old son called Jaun. Jesus is the Lord of my life and my house and through Him all things are possible. He is the Good Shepherd and I am the sheep. I listen to good, solid Christian music! It is the only thing that you should have playing in your house! I do not take the Lord’s name in vain and do not tolerate it either!

If you are reading this and know there is something missing, then get on your knees and repent! Ask God to save you. Jesus is the only way. Hell is not a place you want to be going to and having a relationship with the Lord is the most wonderful thing.

I am a fundamental Bible-believing Baptist Christian and belong to the Ballincollig Baptist Church. I want to thank you for taking the time to read this.

God bless you!

Mikaela N