(SHAILA Chavan (42) works as a nurse in a hospital in Mumbai. Although she was born in a Hindu family, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and took baptism in 1999 when the Lord healed her from a sickness that was tormenting her for three years. Editor.)
By SHAILA CHAVAN
AFTER the birth of my youngest daughter, I had bouts of severe vomiting and loose motions continually for 3 years. I became weaker every day. Around that time, a friend took me to a prayer meeting. Every time I attended the prayer service I got healed and felt energetic but this healing was temporary and soon things would become as bad as before. Though I was attending prayer meetings, I was also holding on to my Hindu poojas and rituals at home.
One day, I became very ill and was admitted to the Sion Hospital in Mumbai. I was hospitalized for 15 days for a bone marrow treatment. During this time, my hemoglobin count had dropped considerably. Doctors who were treating me had said there was hardly any chance for my survival. Every day I saw three to four deaths around me at the hospital. I thought my time was up too and I would soon die. My daughters were very small then and I did not want to die. I prayed desperately to Jesus Christ for healing.
So I prayed to Jesus and said, “If You are truly the Living God, then please don’t let me die, let me live.” That was a simple prayer but that did a mighty wonder. When I was transferred from Sion Hospital to the Hinduja Hospital for advanced treatment, my hemoglobin level had miraculously risen to become normal. Since all other tests were normal I was discharged. That incident and my youngest daughter’s miraculous healing brought about the turning point in my life. I realized that Jesus Christ alone is the True Living God to whom all things are possible.
Although I had become a believer, my mother used to worship a Hindu goddess called Santoshi. She was also possessed by an evil spirit. Whenever she was possessed, she would say that she wanted to set the ‘wet tree on fire’. By that phrase, she was alluding to our bodies. This continued for some time. Eventually, my sister-in-law and elder sister died mysteriously by setting themselves on fire. Those days, we had so much of turmoil within us that we had to take 20 to 30 ml dosage injections every night to sleep at night. When things became unbearable, I would tell my mother that I would poison her and end my life too. I now praise God for His protection that foiled my evil plans.
After we were baptized, the evil spirit attacked my mother again and demanded to know why my mother had left her. Our pastors came and prayed over her and the evil spirit immediately left her.
On doctors’ advice to recuperate from my illness, for a while I went to Pune and lived with my aunt. When they heard me praying, they discovered that I had become a Christian. They began to mock at me calling me ‘Halleluia’. The Bible says in Acts 16:31 thus: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, you and your household will be saved!” I thank God for His faithfulness. Today, my aunt and her daughter are on fire for the Lord. They accepted Jesus as their Savior and took water baptism 3 years ago.
There have been several instances in my life when I experienced the miraculous hand of God providing for my needs. Let me quote one instance. One day, our pastor visited us and inquired about us. I laughed and said although we were doing alright, we had no money to buy kerosene to cook. He prayed for a miracle and left. Sometime later, a neighbor knocked at the door and offered me some money to buy 15 liters of kerosene. Before leaving, he said I could keep half of it for my needs.
However, my life has not always been smooth sailing. I’ve had my share of grief and disappointments, but I cannot forget God’s love for me. I have witnessed God’s power at work in people’s lives around me.
One day, I came across a boy called Vikas Singh at the hospital where I work as a nurse. Since was in coma he was put on ventilator support. I felt the need to share God’s Word with his mother. Although she did not pay much attention to the Gospel and went about doing her own things, the boy recovered miraculously. My church and I had prayed relentlessly for the boy’s recovery. The doctors said although he had passed the danger zone, he would be an invalid throughout his life. He would be unable to speak or walk. Thankfully, by now the mother had started believing that Jesus works miracles so she brought him to our church one day during healing service and the boy was instantly healed.
Life with Jesus is not a bed of roses. There is opposition and ridicule. A few years ago, immediately after my baptism, I approached my boss for a loan. He knew about my new-found faith in Jesus. When I asked him if he would lend me some money for my children’s school fees, he replied sarcastically: ‘Why don’t you ask your church for money? Don’t they give money to convert you to their faith?’ He like so many other people had this mistaken notion that the church provides for the believers’ needs. However, it is not the church that provides but God!
My boss then made an offer to me. He said he would pay my children’s entire school fees if I left Christianity. Having experienced the power and love of the True, Living God, it was not possible for me to turn back from Him and return to my old ways. I had found the One God who promised to be with me and help me and I knew He who promised will do it! I declined the offer and God took care of my children’s needs.
Now I love to share my experience with others by distributing tracts, talking to people, inviting them for prayer meetings, praying for the sick and visiting hospitals. We have joined a Bible study group in our church to become strong in the Lord. We know there is no turning back. Jesus Christ loved me first and now I also love Him.
I just want to tell people who are reading my testimony that no matter what troubles you face in life after accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, please don’t give up. If you continue to trust in Jesus Christ, He will help you overcome!
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