Compared to others my testimony is fairly simple. But It’s my testimony and it’s what brought me to Yeshua (Jesus). So, it’s my absolute pleasure to share it with all of you readers.

My hope is that maybe in sharing my testimony it will help you in some way. Whether now or further down along the road.

I don’t have no crazy background. My background is fairly simple.

I was born in the countryside and raised in a family of faith. Something which I’m very grateful for. I grew up on a farm surrounded by woods that I used to play in all the time.

I was given a private education, homeschooled via the Abeka curriculum, later only to go back and forth from private Christian school and homeschool until my tenth-grade year. Where I spent the first six months homeschooled and the remainder in my local public school. After that I dropped out of school took my GED and obtained my high school diploma. Now I’m currently attending my local community college for a business management degree.

But throughout that time my family had many ups and downs. We were struggling financially, and we lost our original home to some bad people. We moved around for a little while before settling in on my grandma’s farm where we currently live now. But thankfully Yehovah (God) carried us and helped us through.

Despite having been raised in a faith-filled family, I wasn’t exactly devoted to Yeshua (Jesus) myself. I knew all His stories, I knew who He was, I knew He was some big important guy, but yet at the same time I didn’t truly know anything. I didn’t understand the meanings, the lessons, or the value behind all those stories and who He was. I wanted to in a way… a lazy, low-effort kind of way… though.

The way I came to Yeshua (Jesus), however, was by learning it the hard way. He had to break me first; show me the truth behind everything I thought was normal. Show me what surrender truly meant. He had to break me just as you break a horse. Except, I was a stubborn horse.

Also let me just say I have said that pretty little Jesus, I give you all my sins prayer many times throughout my childhood. More times than I can count and remember. But I never truly meant it. I did in a way. In how I wanted to have a relationship with Yeshua (Jesus). But I wanted to have a relationship to where I can live and walk with Him while still doing whatever I wanted. Because like I said before I never truly understood what surrender meant not until He broke me.

So how did He break me? Well do you remember that verse where it says and He gave them up to darkness? That’s what He did with me, He gave me up to darkness. Gave me up to my desires. To my delusions. He warned me to not touch the hot stove, but I touched it anyway and He let me learn that way. He let me make some mistakes, ones that left me feeling very shameful and guilty. Ones that drove me crazy with guilt, shame, and dishonor for a very long time.

But let me be clear, I was a 13–14-year-old child when I made these mistakes. Now that I’m older I see that they weren’t so bad compared to all the other silly things He could have let me do. I’m glad He stopped me only after those. But to the mind of a 13–14-year-old child those mistakes felt like the world was crashing down on me. I was so scared to tell anyone, so I suffered with the pain and guilt in silence. Never saying a word till years later when I finally opened up to some people whom I trusted.

But it was through these mistakes that led me to salvation. Here’s how.

The mistake that tortured me the most was my first mistake. It made me feel the guiltiest. But after I had made it, I was asked by a friend once who was attempting to console me at the time. A very shocking question. She said, ”Are you going to leave the church now?” ……. That question snapped me out of the pit of my sorrows and back to reality. I was so mind-boggled and I couldn’t comprehend what she had just asked me. I responded saying, ”What do you mean leave the church??? Why would I leave the church? The church has nothing to do with my problems. Why would I leave the church over something like this?” She replied, ”That’s just what a lot of people tend to do.” That’s when I began thinking to myself most people but not me. Because you see in my mind, I was thinking of how people down the line would begin to look at me if I did leave the church. I imagined they would treat me the same way they did to others who left. Oh, poor thing, it’s just so sad, or do you know what happened to Rachel? Then someone responds I’m not sure all I know is that she went astray. That thought alone was enough for me to make up my mind. The last thing I’m going to do was leave the church in fact it was the exact opposite! I need to be in church and grow closer to Yeshua (Jesus) now more than ever! Leaving is the last thing I need to do. So, thanks to her asking me that question a fire was lit inside my soul to grow closer to Yeshua (Jesus). So, that’s what I did in a lazy way that is…. But I did in fact try and I did make some progress. I was beginning to not find sermons and Bible lessons as boring as before and I took my position in the church choir more seriously. Thank Yehovah (God)! That I managed to stay consistent long enough that I was able to finally make it to that day. The day I finally heard His voice.

I was 15 now, and my church had organized for all the teenagers in our church to go to this one-week Bible summer camp and I WAS GOING. My friends had all been to Bible summer camps before and had loved it by the sounds of it, so I was zealous to go. It took some convincing from my dad, but he eventually said yes. Not too long after I was off and was on my way to Bible summer camp of 2023! I was so excited during the ride there, but I couldn’t get my mind off of this one verse.

JOHN 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

This verse PLAGUED ME! But it was then I realized that I had never heard His voice nor ever felt His spirit before. I asked myself over and over. Have I ever heard His voice before? Or ever have felt His spirit? I was forced to be honest with myself. I don’t think I ever have felt His spirit or heard His voice before. But it was this question that led me to say a daring prayer. That night at summer camp when I was all alone, I prayed and said, ”Dear Yehovah (God) I declare in the name of Yeshua (Jesus) that before I leave this summer camp, I will hear your voice. If I don’t, I will give up, I won’t believe or follow you anymore. I will conclude that you are not real and that this is a waste of my time. I will look to the world and never look back. But if you answer me, I will look to you and never look back on the world. I will believe in you and continue to follow you forever.”

So, guess what happened? I’ll give you a minute…….

He answered me of course!

On the very last night! I was beginning to lose hope. I had already started to think about what I will do if He truly doesn’t answer me. But it was during the final sermon the choir was singing a song called Lord Here’s My Life by Hyles Anderson College. This song is relevant because I don’t know if it wasn’t for this song that I’d be here right now. This song brought me conviction; it was through this song Yehovah (God) taught me what surrender meant. Also it was during this song that I FINALLY heard His voice… The pastor of the church paused the song and spoke up saying that anyone who wants to be saved to come to the altar. While everyone else was in prayer and while the choir continued singing. It was as the singing resumed and the pastor finished speaking that I heard His voice. I had just told myself well I’m saved so I don’t need to go to the altar. That’s when I heard Him say, ”No you’re not.” I instantly recognized who it was, it was like an intuitive sense. My heart began thumping and my blood began rushing and my whole body all of a sudden felt so hot and I was so shaky. I thought my heart was going to burst open. But I instantly replied to Him, ”Yes I am.” But then He replied back, ”No you're not.” followed by a, ”GO!” But I was stubborn and said, ”Yes, I am!” But He only said it again and more fiercely this time, "No you're not, GO!!!” All of a sudden, I began having flashbacks from all the sermons spoken over the course of the summer camp. Sermons about maybe you won’t get tomorrow, Sometimes Yehovah (God) will call you somewhere or to do something that others can’t do nor follow. Is your reputation worth your eternity.

I quickly snapped back. I could still feel His presence, it was so overwhelming, but I loved it. So I got over my fear because the main reason I didn’t want to go to the altar was because I was scared how everyone I knew and told I was saved to would react. Would they think of me a liar? Would they not like me anymore? What will they think about me? But I quickly got over that because no reputation or worldly thing was worth more than having a relationship with Yehovah (God). I intended to spend my eternity alongside His side basking in His presence and learning to walk alongside Him forever! So, I quickly got up from my seat and speed-walked to the altar. Where I fully surrendered my life to Him. After that I got up and went back to my seat. Oh, but it wasn’t over yet. Yehovah (God) wasn’t done. The pastor then got up again and said if anyone who still wants to be saved or already went to the altar and needs someone to speak to while everyone else’s heads are still bowed, come up and speak with a counselor. That’s when Yehovah (God) said to me again, ”GO.” I told Yehovah (God), ”Again! Wasn’t the altar already enough!” He responded in a strong tone saying, ”Nope, GO!” So off I went to speak with a counselor where I told her what was happening and she prayed over me. Afterwards I went back to my seat. But Yehovah (God) was still not done. The pastor got back up again and now he said that anyone who got saved here tonight and wants to share their testimony to come up on the altar and share it to the crowd. I immediately said OH NO! I AM NOT GOING UP THERE! THAT’S WAY TOO EMBARRASSING! But Yehovah (God) said, ”GO!!!!!!!” In the loudest voice ever! So, I shut up and I got in line. That’s right—there was a LINE! I was not the only kid there that got saved that night thankfully. Many other people had chosen to get saved and share their testimonies too. Even one of my friends who I surely thought was saved and had a much better relationship with Yehovah (God) was up there. But while I was waiting in line, I had a mindset shift. All of a sudden, I was oh no I can’t believe I’m doing this to LET ME HAVE THAT MIC! I was sooo happy when I finally got that mic but as soon as I began to start talking, I started crying! I barely managed to deliver my short but heartfelt testimony and almost tripped walking off the stage. But now Yehovah (God) was done. He didn’t say anything else. But He had left me something in my soul. His spirit. That once empty hollow feeling I used to have inside had been replaced with His uplifting, life-giving presence.

I walked away from that camp forever changed, renewed. Now I have an undying faith in Yehovah (God). Because through His Son He came and gave me life when I was dead. He saved me from drowning. Therefore, I will live the rest of my life serving Him the best I can.

Fun fact, not too long after that I heard His voice again. At church when my old pastor called for everyone who was saved to raise their hand. I heard Him say to me, ”Raise your hand, you are saved.” This brought me to tears as I raised my hand. It brings me to tears even now as I write to you.

But this is my Testimony and as I said before I hope that in sharing my testimony it helps you one way or another.

Nevertheless, thank you for reading, please do stay and take a look at the blog and I hope you have a blessed day.