Testimony – Mae

Good morning everyone. Today I’d like to share my testimony with you.

It’s entitled “The Goodness of God”.

First I’d like to read Proverbs chapter 3, and verses 5 – 6 as this is my favourite scripture committed to memory.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

When I was a young child growing up in the Tokelau Islands my parents brought me up to know God and to pray. They taught us to respect other people. As brothers and sisters we were taught never to swear at each other as it was frowned upon. I knew Jesus, but I didn’t have a personal relationship with him.

Growing up we were very poor going many times without food. Often Mum or Dad would send me to the neighbours to ask for food…I was about 9 or 10 and I remember to this day being embarrassed going over to the neighbours asking for food. I was often very scared & I didn’t like doing it. But I had to or I’d get a hiding. The neighbours would often share their food with us, but sometimes they didn’t have enough for themselves either. In addition to asking the neighbours for food my Dad would send me there to ask for cigarettes. However this angered the neighbour especially if I arrived when he was sleeping as I would wake him up from his nap. Mostly though he would just send me away.

When I was about 12 years old I went to visit a young married couple who were teachers from New Zealand. They had come to teach on the Island. I noticed that they lived a nice life, in a nice house with their baby girl. I was allowed to visit every so often and I would spend time playing with their baby. And while at their house I would daydream about marrying a white man. As I got older I prayed & asked the Lord to give me a white man.

Before I got married though I would get into some mischief with my sisters. We would go out gambling and I enjoyed it very much. Often I would win a lot of money. I was really hooked on gambling by this stage. But one time while out gambling I sensed the Lord was calling me away from this kind of life. I heard him say, Mae this is not the right place for you. It’s not a place you should be in. Gambling with your money even if you win lots of money. So, I prayed earnestly to stop gambling. Next thing I knew I had no desire to gamble any more. This is the Goodness of God.

Later the Lord honoured my request and I did indeed marry a white man. At some stage I left the Tokelau atoll around the age of 16 years old. And two years later at 18 years old I married a white husband. So God answered my prayers. My husband is a good husband, who works hard and is a good family man.

Years later I decided to take my children and attend a Sunday church. But life with four children was so hectic and difficult. I couldn’t do everything I would have liked to have done for my children’s Christian upbringing. I did my best, but it was difficult with an unbelieving husband. Also we came from different cultures. The effect it had on me led to depression & I was unable to cope with the disagreements and cultural differences.

I needed to remove myself from the situation for a little while just to think things through. My husband agreed to let me go and get some rest. I knew God was there, but I couldn’t understand why we couldn’t sort things out as a family. I left and got a place to stay. However I continued to pray for help from the Lord. Then after about six months while praying one day I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me that I need to go back to my family as His grace is sufficient for me.

After that and although I was working and bringing up my family I found time to attend a Methodist church. I was brought up in the Presbytarian church, but this was the closest church to my home at the time. While attending Sunday church I kept having a feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I prayed about it and asked the Lord why there are so many different churches? I felt, “what is going on”? So, I asked the Lord to guide me and tell me which church I should go to.

Then one day while I was at work a man, a co-worker gave me an invitation card to go to a seminar. He found the card in his letter box. He didn’t want to go, because he knew it was a Seventh Day Adventist seminar. And he thought he’d have to give up eating pork, which he didn’t want to do. So he brought the card to work and decided to give it to me out of all his friends & work colleagues.

The seminar was held at the North Harbour church. So, I went to the seminar and on the first night of preaching the word of God, the Lord filled me with great joy, so much joy for over a week. I felt like dancing and the Holy Spirit filled me with Peace in my heart. And I felt so grateful to God as I knew this was what I was seeking.

Then on one occasion while I was reading the Bible I came across Exodus 20:8 to remember the Sabbath day, to rest and to keep it holy. I started to cry like a baby. I was so sorry for not keeping the true Sabbath of the Lord. But at the same time I was filled with peace. I got baptized in the Seventh-day Adventist church. And I continue to read the Word of God every day.

Since then I have kept the Sabbath for the past 15 years and I have never looked back. Amen

Thanks for reading my testimony.

Mae

Postscript, there are three other Scriptures that I have kept close to my heart over the years. And you may find they will help you in your life also.

They are: Psalm 91, Psalm 23, and Jeremiah 29 verse 11