Mittersill,
12.7.1995
Dear
It has nearly
been three months since you received my last Newsletter. This
is mainly due to financial reasons. As this girl has never paid
her part, I had to pay 6666 Schilling (700$) all alone during
the last three months (remember the trial !). At the same time
I had to take care of new life situations and requirements as
I moved into my own flat the day I had to pay the first of three
parts of that money. So my bank account was somehow overstretched
and as a result, I decided in the beginning of June not to buy
anything to eat till the end of June (I had just come back from
the conference in Switzerland). Of course, I failed and after
two weeks of fasting and being surprised again and again how the
Lord provides for us, I spent money I didn’t have on food.
Meanwhile the situation grew worse and I was getting worried what
I could do. When I reached the lowest point (when I already expected
the telephone call from the bank), the Lord wonderfully intervened
and provided the money I most urgently needed. So, I still don’t
have the money to write my News or buy anything but it’s
really on my heart to tell you about all the things that have
happened during the last three months. “Gladly“ many
people didn’t send back the small coupon so my receivers’
list is much smaller now.
I really
don’t know where to start of. I think this time I won’t
be so detailed with everything.
As you can
see, my News look different this time. That’s because they
are written on my new notebook. It was in March when there was
a big discussion going on in my family and the result was that
my grandparents (mother’s parents) gave me the money to
buy this notebook. I got it right after having written my last
News. I have to pay back that money, slowly month by month, but
another thing will run out in September so that there won’t
be any changes really (just the receiver of the monthly amount
changes). Anyway, I’m really happy to have that notebook
and it has already helped me a lot. It saves a lot of time compared
with my old computer (which is worth nothing
today). I’m really thankful for how the Lord provided (I
hadn’t thought of buying a new computer yet). On the other
hand, I spend even more time at the computer now - and especially
at the e-mail at university. I enjoy very much communicating with
so many people through Internet, although time is passing so quickly
as you sit there and write.
I can’t
remember now what I wrote last time, but I’ll just tell
you what has happened so far and back in Vienna, I’ll look
up what you need to know.
In the end
of April, two weeks after the Easter conference, I was given the
possibility to give my testimony in church. I had wanted to give
it earlier but God let me give it exactly the right day. The service
was amazing ! We had a wonderful worship time where God took away
all my nervousness and made me so thankful and full of love towards
Him. Afterwards, I was ready to go up to tell everybody what God
had done for me ! But, to my surprise, Omar got up and said that
he felt he should give the message before anything else. So he
started preaching on “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness“. During the sermon, God continued to
work in my heart. In the end, I could hardly await getting up
and telling everybody my testimony. It was so appropriate to what
we had just heard, it couldn’t have fitted better. So I
went up and after one more song - not being nervous at all - I
shortly told about my childhood, conversion, and up to the conference.
Then I passed on three verses: Heb 10:35-36, which was so important
for me, to encourage other people; 1 John 3:1, that God has lavished
His love on us (in German translated with given) and Eph 5:8,
that we were once darkness and are now light and that we are to
walk in the light. After the testimony, Omar gave the altar call
and several people came forward while we were again singing “As
the deer“. And again - like the Sunday before - about five
people gave their lives to Jesus ! That hasn’t continued
like that but somehow God is working in a special way, preparing
our church for still better things, I believe. I had fasted that
day to prepare myself for the testimony and have done so several
times on Sundays. I realized the special blessing it brings to
commit the Sunday totally to the Lord.
If you wonder
how I’m able to remember all those things so detailed, I
can give you the explanation : I have printed out all the relevant
e-mail-letters I have written and have them here at my side.
What’s
about my Bible study with Ansbert ? What’s about Michi ?
I haven’t heard anything from Michi for a long time. I intend
to send him a book and write a few lines back in Vienna.
Some encouraging
news from Ansbert: Rejoice with me, he definitely is a Christian
now ! He himself wasn’t sure for a long time but there is
enough evidence in the Bible to prove it to him. So I gave him
some of those verses and I think he understood. Unfortunately
we haven’t even had a second Bible study.
Somehow we never made it.
In the beginning
of July Ansbert left to go to Germany for the whole of summer,
although he had intended to go to the ÖSM-camps. Please pray
that he quickly finds a good church and many Christian friends
and that he would be able to grow a lot in this new surrounding.
The 10th
of May, I had a marvellous conversation with a fellow-student
of mine ! Her name is Doris and I had invited her to have breakfast
with me. I didn’t know her too well as we just had had “small
talk“ at university. Anyway, I had been praying for her
for months. So she came and I had prayed that the Lord would lead
our conversation to Himself and that was exactly what He did.
He even surpassed my expectations ! It was amazing how the Holy
Spirit was actually leading the conversation and not me. I told
her the whole gospel but in a way that was extraordinary (as I
said: Holy Spirit speaking). The words came from deep within my
heart and when I talked about the love of God, tears came into
Doris’ eyes. She said she didn’t believe in love and
was glad to be able to talk to men today. All she had accomplished
was her own achievement. Considering all she had said, it leads
to some horrible suspicions. Sometimes I got cold by what she
said. She also said that she didn’t want to get rid of her
guilt but be made responsible for it herself. She said that it
wasn’t fair to let somebody else pay for own guilt. She
then said that she had never heard talking about Christianity
that way. I invited her to VCC and she said she would probably
come. (She didn’t.) She also said that she was afraid of
accepting God’s offer - as a reason not to come to church.
I felt that she was deeply hurt and how Satan’s work had
damaged a lot inside her. When she had left, I could have cried
for her ! It was as if knowing her pain myself. When I had offered
her to tell her “my story“, she had refused to listen
to it. When she left, she took the book “Peace Child“
by Don Richardson with her. I had recently read it and was excited
about it. Just about a week later she gave it back to me, just
saying that it had been good. Unfortunately we didn’t have
the time to talk more. As time was passing, she didn’t come
to that lecture any more and so we hardly saw each other. In the
middle of June was her birthday - a day she didn’t like.
Anyway, some days later Kevin Prosch gave an evangelistic concert
and I gave her a ticket for it for her birthday. She said she
would come and she did. The concert was a bit disappointing in
the way that the gospel wasn’t clearly presented. There
were just some songs with Christian context. In the beginning
were several fast songs which Doris enjoyed a lot. Later some
people went to the front worshipping God and I explained her how
wonderful it was to be in God’s presence and to receive
His amazing love. Again I realized that she was touched. Some
time later the concert was over and I haven’t seen her since
then. She is now in her holiday in Salzburg. I haven’t got
her address there but she said she would send it to me. Please
pray that God would continue to draw her closer and that she would
open her heart to receive His love.
Vienna,
18.7.1995
Now I’m
back in Vienna, and especially the last days have been quite tough
and exciting. Where shall I start ?
Let’s
continue. The day I hoped Doris to come to VCC was the 14th of
May. That day was also Mother’s day and so I had to go to
my mother’s house where the whole family would celebrate.
In the morning I went to Grace Church but had to leave before
the sermon to be in time. I was quite sensitive that morning and
it deeply hurt me when all the different kinds of mothers had
to get up and were honored in the service. I was thinking of my
family and how much I longed my mother to be one of those women
getting up. So when I left church I continued to pray for my family
and especially for that afternoon. I intended to invite my family
to VCC that night and hoped they would come as a birthday present
maybe. For that reason I had prayed for them more than usual.
When I then saw them all (my mother and brother, Heinzi, his mother,
my grandparents), embracing each other, and they were even loving
towards me, my pain grew even stronger. Somehow I saw them through
God’s eyes, being lost, living in darkness, and awaiting
eternal death. When I embraced them - especially my brother is
on my heart - I just prayed for their salvation, tears coming
to my eyes because of their rejection of the gospel. I had to
go into “my room“ and could hardly prevent myself
from crying. I didn’t cry because they had hurt me but because
they were lost. I tried to stop my tears but they would come again
and again. Finally they called me to come, and somehow I managed
not to have tears running down my cheeks, but I didn’t know
whether they had realized something. Then we had the celebration,
Mother’s day and my birthday at once. I opened the card
my mother and Heinzi had given me. I could hardly believe my eyes
! It was an astrological card with my sign of the zodiac and my
so called strengths and weaknesses. When I opened it, I held it
at a distance, whispering,“such a card ?!?“. I couldn’t
believe it. They know exactly how I think about astrology. There
was even a card inside to remove and to take with you. I quickly
read their words, without understanding what I read, and put the
card aside. My mother stood nearby and watched me. I think I had
become pale. She just looked at me and seemed to delight in my
shock and pain.
Then I opened
my brother’s card. It was a normal card, but his words were
the more painful and hurting. Then embracing everybody and saying
“thank you“ was too much. My concern for them was
deepened again by the cards and it seemed so hopeless. I had to
get away as quickly as possible ! I just needed to tell somebody
- and to pray and be prayed for. So, I told them that I would
shortly leave to phone somebody. Heinzi insisted on having me
calling from their place but I managed to get away. On my way
to the phone booth, I was just crying without holding it back.
In the phone booth I tried to calm down again and phoned two people
who weren’t both at home. For that reason I broke into tears
again: When you need somebody, nobody is there.
I then phoned my prayer partner Louise, who said some encouraging
words and prayed for me on the phone. I felt better afterwards.
Then I returned home. The rest of the afternoon was as usual.
They were chatting, and I then went into “my“ room
to arrange some things. Later I invited them all to come to VCC.
How relieved they all were to have some other commitments for
that evening ! Except my brother. He just found some hurting words
again in order to tell me he wouldn’t come. I was really
looking forward to the service then. What a privilege it is to
have your birthday on a Sunday ! Which
better way is there to celebrate your birthday ?!
Friday the
19th of May, I met Petra again, after half a year ! I have mentioned
her previously, once I added some hand-written information. She
has a one-year-old child and her boy-friend is a drug-addict.
Petra visited me with her child (she just had her 22nd birthday).
It was the first time I really had an opportunity to witness to
her as her boy-friend had always been around. I told her everything
God had done in my life so far during the two years. She listened
carefully, seemingly not understanding what I was talking about.
But she realized the difference in my life. She is the only person
who always knew about the horrible things that happened in my
home and who knew about my feelings. If anybody sees the difference,
it’s her. Unfortunately we don’t see each other very
often. We had quite a good time together and agreed that we should
see each other more often. I haven’t seen her again since
then. I also invited her to the Kevin Prosch-concert (as it was
her birthday too) but she couldn’t come.
The following
day, Saturday 20th, Catherine and I went to Salzburg, to a one-day-conference
(prayer & action) for “From Minus to Plus“. I
told you about Catherine, the French girl who was so open and
interested in the gospel. I was glad she accompanied me, hoping
to get to know her better. I was a bit “disappointed“
then about the way the day was held (I’m always worried
when I take an unbeliever to a Christian event). The conduct of
the prayer meetings was “very charismatic“. Catherine
didn’t like it and preferred going for a walk meanwhile.
We then spent the night with friends in Salzburg and also went
to their church (Mennonites) the following morning. In the service
there one of the elders talked about what he had seen the day
before at that meeting, and I was so thankful to God for what
he said (that different people worship differently etc.). Catherine
needed to hear that very much and felt much better afterwards.
Unfortunately I haven’t seen her since then. Although she
likes to come to VCC, she hasn’t been there for a long time.
At least we stay in contact through e-mail. Please pray for her
as I feel she turned away from God again and goes the other direction.
On the way
to Salzburg, we experienced God’s protection in a special
way. We were about 20 km from Vienna when we suddenly heard some
strange sound. I wondered what it was and thought of going on
anyway while Catherine urged me to stop. So I slowed down and
a parking “happened“ to be right there at that moment.
When we
got out of
the car, we saw that the left wheel in the back had burst. It
was even smelling ! I stood there in awe, thinking of the angels
that must have held the rest of the wheel in their hands, bringing
us safely to the parking. I had read even more amazing testimonies
before and had never started a longer trip without praying that
God would send His angels to accompany us and protect us since
then.
Some days
later (it was a long weekend), I left to go to Graz for the ÖSM-annual-training
weekend. I had a talk at university right after that weekend so
that I had to use every single free moment there to prepare it.
As time passed, I became more and more discouraged. Somehow I
stagnated in my preparation, not knowing how to go on, then the
speaker seemed to be quite “anti-charismatic“, and
I missed the fellowship with the others, not being able to join
them in their conversations. I asked myself for which purpose
I was there and was glad when the Lord spoke to me the last night.
He gave me a fresh vision about the ÖSM-work and a new concern
for the students. At that time I had already been very discouraged
concerning the ÖSM-work. As our group seemed to grow in the
beginning of the semester, it had somehow turned into the opposite
(although I’m so thankful for one new zealous student in
out team). Additionally, there was a general hopelessness and
“what is it good for ?“-mood. I tried my best to motivate
people but slowly lost my energy myself.
That weekend
should still have a kind of peak. I was glad to return in time
for the service in VCC. That Sunday a choir from Brussels was
to come for which reason it had been announced an evangelistic
service. So I invited my grandparents to finally come and see
the Vienna Christian Center themselves and they agreed. I was
proud to be able to introduce my grandparents (first visitors).
During the worship time, I stood there, feeling totally exhausted
and having reached my limit, being hungry for good and needing
a fresh touch from Him, and not being able to genuinely worship
as I was worrying about my grandparents at my side. But the worst
was still to come. This service was to be unique so far. After
the worship time, one of the elders who had just come back from
Toronto, started to give his testimony (I translated for my grandmother).
Then there was a time of prayer and altar call. I had to respond
to it and went forward for prayer, leaving my grandparents behind.
I tried to focus on Jesus and not on my grandparents in the back
but it was hard. Finally, as I was prayed for, I went down under
the power of the Spirit. A few minutes later, my grandfather tapped
on my shoulder and said that they were leaving and that I should
phone them the next day. I was a bit embarrassed and couldn’t
concentrate on God any more. I then shared with a girl how hard
it had recently been and she prayed for me. Why had my grandparents
had to come right at that evening ? Anyway, it didn’t have
any obvious effects on them. We have been doing our Bible study
regularly through the months, without any obvious steps forward
either. Although the last two times, my grandmother
had made notes in her preparation. I was quite surprised about
that. After summer, I have to continue differently. I see how
important it is, that they get to know Jesus,
and they hardly do so looking up different verses on a topic.
I intend to do some classical Bible studies with them
in autumn although it requires more preparation.
Back to that
weekend in May. The following day I had cancelled all commitments
in order to make some progress in preparing my talk. God wonderfully
answered the day’s before prayer. I had so much joy in the
Lord, and by the evening, my talk was more or less totally prepared.
I couldn’t believe it ! Now I was able to look forward to
the conference in Switzerland we intended to go to two days later.
Wednesday the 31st, right after the talk, four of us left to go
to Bern in Switzerland (900 km), by my car. The conference was
held by the church Basilea Bern Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
Speakers were John Arnott, Guy Chevreau, Wesley & Stacey Campbell,
David Ruis, Ed Piorek, Martin Bühlmann (the pastor), Gary
Hayashi, Kevin Prosch (worship) and some more. There were 3000
people from central Europe participating. In the mornings and
evenings we had main meetings and in the afternoon workshops.
After every meeting I recorded what God had done for me and in
me, and there were 12 meetings all together. I’m glad I
did that. Like that I can follow God’s gradual work and
will always be able to look up what He did. I’ll try to
summarize: Every single meeting had its own character as the speakers
had. Some meetings God was healing, others gifting and equipping.
During that weekend, God continued to heal me from my past. There
were some hard prayer times, when pain came up, but at the same
time, God poured His healing oil on the wounds. There was one
thing God showed me especially: Every time someone talks about
God’s love, I’m deeply touched and long to know this
love deep in my heart. Every time I went for prayer, I felt like
being left out. I realized meanwhile that the more joyful I am
when I come to God, the more I receive from Him. So there were
one of those meetings again. God showed me then where my continual
cry for His love comes from: All my life I had been trying to
get in contact with my father, especially after my conversion,
and he had never reacted. So I projected this image onto God.
I had always thought that everything is Heinzi’s fault.
Afterwards, I came before God again and just praised Him for His
great love for me, repenting of what I had said before. God has
shown me His great love again and again. The following meeting,
God blessed me abundantly again ! He is so gracious ! Coming back
that night, I just couldn’t stop laughing for some time.
I think it was the very first time in my life I have laughed like
that as I had never known what it is like to laugh. I had asked
God before the conference to teach me to laugh and I’m glad
He did (although I still find it hard to laugh).
God also
equipped me for serving Him in different ways. Especially in the
last meeting, when we were sent out, God deeply touched me and
filled me with His Spirit. I tell you, it was an amazing weekend.
I think, the most impressed me the wisdom and gentleness of the
leaders and the prayer team. God had started moving that way in
this church a year before, and so they meanwhile had some experience
- and had been transformed radically !
Coming back
from Bern, I felt so close to God and was eager to serve Him with
all He had given me. Nevertheless, I didn’t feel very well
about telling Heinzi the “whole story“, as I had scheduled
for the 6th, and decided that it was too early to do so. When
I prayed before going there, I felt God giving me His power and
strength. Then I couldn’t await telling them. I was totally
excited and full of God’s love. Unfortunately, I didn’t
have my parent’s full attention as they were watching TV.
So I just sat there and told them about the conference. Then I
told Heinzi for the first time that I would love him. (There was
a humorous atmosphere, an atmosphere of laughter.) I then told
him that it was a miracle for me that I’ve never believed
possible and that only Jesus was able to do that. I said those
things out of my heart, telling him also how much Jesus loves
him. He was only laughing and smiling, nodding with his head.
Then he repeated several times, to the rest of the family and
at every opportunity, that I love him, making jokes about jealousy
to my mother. I realized that it was enough for that evening and
that I wouldn’t get more attention from them. I asked whether
I could pray for them to bless them but they refused. My brother
was even running out of his room when I wanted to bless him. Unfortunately,
he hadn’t heard what I had told my parents. I’m sure
it was an important step forward for Heinzi what I had told him.
He even asked my opinion as a Christian later, about Muslims etc.
Since the
conference, one thing that has changed is my hunger to study God’s
Word. Three weeks before the conference, I was given a “Full
Life Study Bible“ by VCC (because I’ll have a cell
group in my place after summer) which immediately gave me a new
impulse to study the Word. Now I still enjoy very much reading
my new Bible - and all the commentaries ! My quiet times have
changed significantly since the conference.
The other
important event that was scheduled, was the meeting with my father
the 10th of June. The day before there had been the Singles meeting
and VCC prayer night, and that morning then the ÖSM-prayer
meeting. So I was glad for that “preparation“. Nevertheless,
I became a bit nervous as the hour was approaching. I had finished
my “sentence“ more or less : Ich liebe Dich und
möchte Dich sehen (I love you and want to see you). My
father had never reacted to those cards. So I didn’t really
expect my father to come but still hoped he would. For that reason
I wasn’t that much disappointed at first when he didn’t
come. I considered what to do next. So I thought I would give
him “another chance“. It was still possible that my
father had been away or had another reason not to come that day.
So I decided to continue sending my cards and proposing another
meeting, the 1st of July. Two days later, I received a letter
from him.
I didn’t dare opening it alone but realized later that there
hadn’t been any reason to fear :
Vienna, 11.6.1995
Dear Claudia,
I’m sorry, that our meeting wasn’t realized but
it wasn’t but before tonight that I was able to read that
you wanted to meet me yesterday. Since I come to Vienna every
third week in the average, it’s impossible for me to react
so quickly.
Besides, I’m quite scared thinking of that meeting. I’ve
read all your cards and know, that you have a flat and need much
money for it. And that’s exactly where I can’t help
you at the moment. I’ve already been without job since October
94 and from August 95 on, I won’t even get any unemployment
benefit any more. During the last years I have been managing director
in Prague but just when everything worked without problems, they
didn’t need me any more. During the last months, I had to
learn that at the age of 45, you’re already too old for
a new job. For that reason, I really don’t know what’s
going to happen in the time to come.
Nevertheless, I’m going to get married soon. I don’t
know the date and place yet, but the person. She’s from
Prague and another reason why I hardly ever am in Vienna.
Most of the time I now live in an old farm in Waldviertel (a
region 150 km north of Vienna) and that’s also my main residence.
In case you still want to see me in spite of my situation, you
should better write to [...]. I read my mail much earlier there.
There is also a telephone : [...]
Okay, I think that’s maybe all at first. Claudia, I’d
also like to see you, but my trepidation, my inhibitions and fears
are so unpronounceably big.
With love,
your Dad
I tried to
phone him immediately but he wasn’t at home. I then decided
to write back a long letter as I had so many things on my heart
but failed because of the lack of time. So I just continued to
send my cards (to his permanent address), but wanting to phone
him to get assured of the 1st of July and also because it would
be easier to talk to him after having talked to each other on
the telephone after such a long time (8 years).
So the time
passed by and nothing happened. Then, one Sunday morning (June
25th), I got up late, intending to commit that day totally to
the Lord, and was looking forward to an extended prayer time and
Bible study. After some time of Bible reading and prayer, I felt
that the way was cleared to phone my father. I don’t like
phoning very much, especially when there is an inconvenient reason.
But I then felt I could do it with God’s help. So I prayed
some more and asked God for His strength and wisdom as I would
talk to my father. Then I rang him up and this time he was at
home. He picked up the receiver and said, “Wintoch ?“
I said, “Who is speaking there ?“ (I didn’t
recognize his voice.) He said, “Wintoch“ I said, “Wolfgang
?“ (That’s his first
name.) He said, “Yes.“ I said, “That’s
Claudia speaking.“ I heard a kind of emotional shock on
the other end. I myself was really in God’s arm as I talked
and wasn’t really nervous. I just wanted to talk to him
a bit but obviously he tried to finish the conversation as quickly
as possible. I asked him whether it was okay for him to meet that
Saturday and he agreed. So he said, “See you on Saturday
and then we’ll talk.“ and that was it more or less.
Afterwards, I felt feelings of fear coming up. We hadn’t
recognized each other’s voices, I had realized his language
being unfamiliar and had felt like talking to a stranger. Eight
years ago, when we had met, I had been shocked by his appearance
and his way so that I hadn’t wanted to see him again. What
if it would be the same the 1st of July ? What if I felt rejection
towards him ? What if I wouldn’t like him ? What if I wouldn’t
like to talk to him ? What if I wouldn’t want to see him
again ? On the other hand I had been waiting and praying for that
day for such a long time. So, all kind of thoughts went around
in my mind during that week. Some of you got “News from
Vienna 7,5“ where you were able to read everything I have
written now. Now I tell how the story went on: As mentioned I
was a bit nervous as I went to the appointed place. My father
was already there and waved from afar. How could he recognize
me from that distance ? We then sat in the ice-cream-shop and
talked for two hours. First we talked about our present situations
and our plans for the future. Then he asked me about church and
the ÖSM. We then started to discuss about the Christian faith,
what it meant to me, about my father’s beliefs, I then explained
him the whole gospel and how you become a Christian. My father
said he loves to discuss about that topic. Then he started to
tell me why he had left us 17 years ago, and what it was like
afterwards. I learnt a lot of new things and began to understand
why he had left. I especially learnt new things about my mother
and her parents (and not positive things) which made me very sad.
After those two hours, we separated again, making another appointment
to see each other two weeks later. I then went home, thoughts
going through my mind. I didn’t really know how to feel
but was glad the meeting had been so good. Thank you so much for
all your prayers ! I really felt in God’s arms as I was
talking to my father.
Two weeks
later, after having been away for two weeks, I left early on Sunday
morning the 16th of July to drive to my father’s house out
in the countryside. I arrived there at 10 am. I then got to know
my father’s fiancee Irvana from the Czech Republic. She
is divorced herself and has two daughters, one at the age of 15
and the other one younger. She sees them once a week. I like Irvana,
although she hadn’t said so much.
We then started
talking again, about the past and about the faith mainly. Again
I was amazed about the freedom I had to share the gospel with
him (Maybe because he is like a stranger to me ?!). He listened
carefully, asking questions and saying his opinion.
He then said he was impressed about my strong faith in what I
believe.
Again I learnt
some new things about my past and my father’s past. I want
to summarize them shortly: My father had met my mother when he
was 17 and she was 15. After three years my father tried to break
up their relationship. As he said so, my mother became angry and
said to my father, “You have to explain that to my parents.“
For that reason they kept being together. During the following
two years my mother always urged my father to marry her, but he
had never intended to do so. He knew that they wouldn’t
fit together. After those two years, in a weak moment, he gave
in. Two months later they married, after two months of doubts
in my father’s life. They thought a child could change their
situation and for some time it did. I was born one year after
their wedding. Besides, two days before their wedding my mother
attended her last lecture at university, never intending to continue
again (one of the things she had told me differently). She had
always been the best student. Maybe you know that my mother’s
father is in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (he plays the viola),
and professor at the musical university (now retired), and so
part of the high society. For that reason, my grandparents had
always tried to bring their daughter together with a young, well-gifted,
future musician in the Philharmonic Orchestra, but she wasn’t
interested. Now there was this “poor“ guy from a technical
school coming and marrying their daughter. They had never accepted
him and made his life to be hell on earth. They worked against
him in every way they could. Their influence on my mother, and
on the young family, was very strong. They got involved in everything
and made more or less the decisions. They took every opportunity
to make clear that they had no money and paid all kind of things,
like holidays for example. When my father came back from a business
trip, bringing several new dresses for his little daughter, my
grandparents threw them away, calling them “cheap rags“,
hurting my father deeply. He tried to talk to my mother but she
would rather run to her parents, never wanting to discuss anything
with her husband. She is more the explosive person that solves
problems through shouting and punishing. My father is quite sensitive,
not being able to shout at all, and wanting to solve every problem
through discussion. As the pressure grew stronger and stronger,
he spent more and more time away on business trips. He couldn’t
stand his in-laws’ terror any more. At the age of 14 he
had started having depressions and thoughts of suicide (exactly
like it was with me !). He told me that his father was quite violate-tempered
and had beaten him. He had seen his mother for the last time at
the age of 14. She now lives in England and he hasn’t even
been in contact with her for many years. This English grandmother
even writes to me for birthday and Christmas ! He told me another
story when he was badly hurt when his mother had come to Vienna
for some hours and hadn’t phoned him but my mother, seeing
her and her grandchildren instead of her son (whom she hadn’t
seen for 10 years). Because of his own past, my father had wanted
to raise his children in love,
giving them everything he hadn’t had. Strangely enough,
my childhood turned out to be very similar to
his.
One year
after their wedding my father again couldn’t stand it any
longer and just saw two possibilities: either leaving or committing
suicide (a choice I had never had). So he said he would do the
latter and left the house. When he came back late in the afternoon,
after having walked through Vienna, my mother called the police.
Policemen came and brought him to the police station, from where
he was put into a psychiatric clinic, without ever being asked
one question by anybody. Three days later he
could leave again, being terribly bitter towards my mother for
what she had done, never forgiving her that phone call. Obviously
some time later they thought a second child would help and so,
three years after my birth my brother was born. I ask myself how
my father had endured all those years. Finally he gave up before
destroying himself and left forever, wanting to leave everything
behind and to start a new life.
Can you imagine
how I feel by hearing all that ? I see all the
hurt, despair and darkness in my father’s life, reminding
me so much of my own past. He was talking about suicide for some
time. He spoke about somebody who had written a book on suicide
before committing it, and my father had tried to get this book
for a whole year before achieving his goal ! After some time I
actually felt the powers of darkness present and stopped my father,
telling him what I believed about that topic. He asked me how
my feelings of having no worth etc. had changed after my conversion
and I witnessed to him. When I talked about the amazing love of
God from my heart, and told him how precious we are - and he is
- to God, again, I could see how God touched Him. His eyes were
getting red, looking so longingly to receive what I was talking
about. When our conversation seemed to had come to a kind of end,
I asked my father whether I could pray for him (see explanation
later, Love Europe-conference). He agreed and I prayed. You can
image how much I long to see my father turn to Jesus so that He
can heal him from all this damage ! When I think of my “short“
life of 20 years before my conversion, and how hard it still is
to get rid of everything and be healed, how much harder must it
be for my father, at the age of 45 ! Please pray that God would
continue to work in his heart, bringing light into his darkness
and showing him that His offer is for him.
I myself
are still waiting for the “crisis“. So far it hasn’t
been very emotional for me and I’m bit surprised (worried
?) about that. Perhaps because my father is more like a stranger
than a father to me. It was different for him. Sometimes I could
see how moved he was.
One thing
I’m more struggling with are all the terrible things I’ve
heard about my mother and my grandparents. I don’t want
to accuse them of anything and forgave them for what they had
done. I wished I could talk to them openly. You can’t imagine
how
hard it is to be with them, having all these questions in your
mind, and not being able to ask them. I would want to hear my
mother explaining me her lies, and explaining me her motives for
what she had done. I would want to challenge my grandparents who
claim to be Christians about what they had done to my father.
I would want to get answers ! Today (18th of July) I had my “first“
Bible study with my grandparents again. I had to think about my
father most of the time, wanting to ask them. It’s my desire
that our Bible studies are not affected by my “new knowledge“
and that I don’t hold anything against
them. Please pray for me concerning that point. I’m sure
the day will come when I can ask them these questions.
So, at 3:30
p.m. we all started off to Vienna. At the first meeting, I had
invited my father to come to VCC that day. I hadn’t really
believed he would come as he was skeptical but now we started
off to be at the service in time ! During the one and a half hours-drive
to Vienna I was praising God, thanking Him, and interceding for
my father and Irvana all the time. We then arrived half an hour
too early. I was a bit nervous. What would they think ? That night,
I was quite hungry for God myself, as I had just gone through
some tough days (and weeks - more about that later) and somehow
I regretted not to be able to genuinely worship God. After the
worship-time, the first visitors had to introduce themselves.
So all three of us got up and I said, “It’s very special
to me to introduce my father from Austria and his fiancée
from the Czech Republic.“ Omar (the pastor) then said something
like, he appreciated me being involved in VCC. I then asked my
father how he would like it so far. He hesitated and then said
he was shocked. I asked why and he answered that the worship seems
to him like bringing people into trance (we sang several fast
songs and one slow one: When I look into Your holiness).
Now I was shocked by that answer. When the guest speaker started
preaching, my father and Irvana left. I then felt terrible but
continued to translate the sermon. After the service I felt completely
down. I will continue here later when I explain more about the
weeks before.
Now I won’t
see my father again before their wedding. They agreed to wait
till I’m back from England. I intend to write a letter to
my father, giving him my address in England and thanking him for
last Sunday. We had had a nice day before the service.
Now back
to June. The last three weeks I had several exams (I failed one
of them), and had to finish writing two papers. So I was quite
busy, still doing all the other things beside. At the same time,
I enjoyed having “more time“ for my quiet time in
the end of June as the lectures were ceasing. There was one week
when I studied the whole book of Revelation, learning so much
about God’s future plan and also about God’s wrath.
At the same time I didn’t feel very well with different
problems and feelings of failure. I usually set my own level quite
high and at that time, I failed to achieve it several times. I
also became more aware of my sinful behaviours. And then I was
slowly coming down from that peak where I had been after the conference.
Then one Sunday,
I was told about the possibility to go to the Love Europe-congress
as a volunteer worker which started one week later, the 1st of
July. I had to decide within a day. As I was praying, I got assured
of God’s approval and was looking forward to the conference,
although it meant quite a busy week before. I then left one day
later, the 2nd, as I had met my father before.
The conference
was held in Budapest. There were 500 young people there who were
to go out to Eastern Europe after that week of training. My job
was to sit at the information desk and help people what I enjoyed
very much. Especially during the meetings, there weren’t
hardly any people passing by, and so, I had a lot of time for
reading. And I was surprised to see that I had a lot of free time.
So I could participate in several meetings and seminars. I’m
especially thankful to God that I had all the mornings off. There
were four-day-skill-tracks. It was hard to choose between sketchboard
and prayer and spiritual warfare, but I finally chose
the latter. And I’m so glad I did ! The speaker was English,
Trevor Gregory (with OM in London), and he is one of the most
amazing speakers I know ! His seminar was excellent and I learnt
a lot, and not only theoretical things but things I have already
been able to put into practice (more later). If he had written
a book, I would immediately recommend it to you. Another interesting
thing was to get to know George Verwer, the founder and director
of Operation Mobilisation. I only heard him speak once.
He is quite unique.
The weather
was brilliant all the time, and one afternoon we went into the
inner city, what I enjoyed too. I also got to know some people
at the conference with whom I hope to stay in contact. I’m
really very grateful that God sent me to that conference and even
provided the financial means. For some time I was wondering why
God had wanted me to go there. I slowly begin to understand now.
I came back
from Budapest Friday the 7th of July, going directly to the Singles
meeting-barbecue. The next day I had to film my parents at one
of their dancing competitions. There I learnt that a nineteen-year-old
boy I had spent some time in my childhood with, had just committed
suicide. He had jumped into the Danube. (His mother was a friend
of my mother.) When I heard that, my heart was deeply stirred.
Especially in Austria, the rate of suicides is very high. If he
had known the good news of Jesus, he would still live. If somebody
would have told him, he would still live. If more Christians were
concerned about the world around them, more people would live.
I had to leave the place (it wasn’t my parents’ turn
yet) and went into the nearby woods, where I sat in the grass
and interceded for all the broken people living in despair and
hopelessness. Again, I asked God - or rather pleaded with Him
- to use me to bring His good news to the lost
and broken.
The following
day was Sunday and I was looking forward to the service, after
having missed the one the week before. I still didn’t feel
well, like in June, and hoped to meet with God that night. It
does happen from time to time that I leave exactly the same way
I had come to church. I felt as empty and down after the service
as I had before. Those nights are the most terrible ones.
The following
morning, July 10th, I left to go the training week in Schloß
Mittersill, which had started two days before. The theme of the
week was Parables of Jesus, and the speaker our leader
Fred Bailey and his wife. There were only 50 students there this
year. I had the privilege to lead a Bible study group what I enjoyed
a lot ! I felt so weak when I came there that I didn’t know
how I should lead that group. But I love to prepare passages,
especially with a library like in Mittersill at hand. So I took
several commentaries and explored the chosen passages, learning
so many things just by preparing. I was then able to pass on in
the group what I had learnt myself while discovering more in the
discussion. I tell you, these times were the highlights of the
week for me. I also enjoyed the talks in the evening generally.
When I came
to Mittersill, I was already quite tired. I decided only to participate
in the “most important“ things, having the most rest
possible (which wasn’t very much). During that week, my
spiritual condition somehow became worse. It was strange, because
I felt good and bad at the same time. I still enjoyed studying
God’s word and having my quiet time (although it decreased
too), at the same time God seemed to be more and more distant.
As the days were passing, I was crying for God to draw me closer
to Himself. I didn’t understand why I was in that situation.
I loved God with all of my heart and needed His presence more
than anything else. I became aware how dependent I am on God.
I can’t do anything without Him. It also came to
my mind that God might be testing me. I had just been going through
amazing encounters with God, which were powerful, where God had
visibly been very near. One thought was that God wanted to test
my faithfulness when He seems to be distant. Thinking of that,
I was even rejoicing and saying, my dear Lord, I won’t forsake
you. Thursday seems to be a significant day in my life (I converted
on a Thursday, had special encounters with God on Thursdays etc.).
It was on Thursday when I reached the bottom. Again I cried out
for God and asked Him to send somebody by I could talk to. My
prayer partner Louise was very busy, and didn’t seem to
be interested to talk with me. So I was glad about our leader’s,
Fred’s, sensitivity who realized that I wasn’t okay.
I talked with him and was so thankful when he prayed for me. The
following day, we had a “good-bye-evening“ for Fred
Bailey & his family because they are returning to the States
(Canada) after having been in Austria for 10 years. I think, Fred
is the most “godly“ person I know. He is the person
I have trusted most and had most confidence in, and whom I have
a lot of respect of. For me, Fred is a real example, a high ideal,
so that I look up to him with reverence. That evening was very
hard for me. Especially when we sang the song “Go under
God’s grace, go with God’s blessing, go with His peace
wherever you go“, I was overwhelmed with pain. I couldn’t
hold back my tears which were running down my cheeks. Finally
I wasn’t even able to sing anymore. I
was glad I stood in the back. After that evening I immediately
went to bed. The moment of finally saying good-bye is very close
meanwhile.
When I came
back to Vienna on Saturday afternoon, I was glad again to have
another opportunity to talk and to pray, this time with Louise.
I was quite down. I felt like not being able to fight any more,
against all those thoughts from my past coming up again, all the
things that had been said to me during the first 20 years of my
life. Again I had to realize that my healing process isn’t
finished yet and that Satan will always have something to attack
me with. Anyway, I felt much better after having prayed with Louise.
I spent the
following day with my father as described earlier. Driving back
to Vienna and praying for my father in the car, I felt close to
God again for the first time. As I said, I then felt terrible
after the service. The days before had been so hard and I felt
like not being able to fight any more. I needed God so much. Again,
it had been one of those “empty“ services for me.
As I was talking to some people afterwards, they even realized
that I wasn’t okay (In Mittersill, somebody even addressed
me saying, “What’s wrong with you ? That’s not
the way I know you.“). Two of my friends asked me whether
I would like them to pray for me. I agreed, more or less thinking,
okay, another prayer, that might help me. As they prayed for me,
asking God to fill me with His Spirit etc., I just fell to the
floor after some moments. I hadn’t expected that at all,
but I was so happy about God’s touch ! I felt like God saying
to me, I’ve heard all your cries and seen all your tears
and the longing of your heart, and I’m here with you. God
comforted me so much and I was so thankful ! That evening I felt
so close to God again, rejoicing in Him, in His kindness, graciousness,
love, ... .
God had taken
care of my financial difficulties in Mittersill again, like in
Budapest. I couldn’t believe it ! Just when I felt worse,
I learnt that the whole amount the week cost would be paid ! I
could have cried about God’s faithfulness and care, especially
at that moment. That was a real miracle to me. It showed me, too,
that God is not dependent on our faithfulness to him, He will
always be faithful to us.
Now, what
is happening at the moment ? During this week and the following,
we have an IFES-summer team here, with daily coffee-bar, going
on the streets etc.. Monday night I took the chance to participate
and go into a residence with the questionnaire. I intended to
apply what I had learnt in the prayer and spiritual warfare-
seminar at Love Europe. So I have to pass on to you one
of the testimonies Trevor had given us, that encouraged me so
much :
We did an outreach in England when I met two Muslims, a Lebanese
and a Syrian. We sat in a café and talked about our beliefs.
After one and a half hours I realized that we were going in circles
and said that I would have to leave. I offered them to pray for
them before leaving. They discussed for some time and then said,
"if you do that, then head off." I said, "you or
me ?" The Lebanese said that whoever in his village allows
a Christian to pray for him, is killed. Then they discussed again
and agreed that I could pray for them. As I prayed that they Holy
Spirit would come into their hearts and bring the Kingdom of God,
the Lebanese started to cry. So I went on praying. After some
time, the Lebanese asked whether I had a tract and I gave him
the gospel of John. I didn’t expect to see them again. The
following day, they were at the coffee-bar, wanting to ask me
several questions. The Lebanese told me that he had gone home
and started to read the gospel. Then wrote down all his questions
till early in the morning. The following day he went to work.
At lunch-time he called all his friends and shared with them what
he had read. Then they added all their questions. In the evening
all 13 of them came to the coffee-bar, with 4 pages of questions.
After having received Christ, they then started a Bibles study
group.
(I quoted it
from my memory.)
The point
Trevor wanted to make was: Never leave after a conversation
without having asked whether you could pray for that person.
So I decided to apply that Monday evening. The first person I
talked with was a kurdish student. We discussed for a long time
(he had said that he wasn’t interested in God at all !),
and it seemed to me that he became more open. Finally I realized
that it didn’t make any sense to go on discussing. So I
asked him whether I could pray for him. He agreed (like Trevor
had said, nearly everybody agrees !) and so I prayed for Reza,
that God would come by His Holy Spirit and enlighten His heart,
showing him how much He loves him and longs for him to come to
Him, that His kingdom would come in his heart etc.. When I stopped
I realized that Reza had been touched. He was quite moved and
took the gospel with interest. I hope he’ll come to the
coffee-bar. The other person I prayed for was a young female student.
She said she was catholic and considered herself a Christian.
Nevertheless, I also saw that she was moved by my prayer for her.
Especially when I prayed for the kingdom of God to come (both
times), I sensed the presence of God very strong. I’ve just
read how central the kingdom of God is in Jesus’ preaching
and how much we neglect that. I think that’s true. I was
so encouraged by those conversations (we didn’t have more
time to go on) and so excited ! I hadn’t felt the joy of
the Lord that much for some time. I will never do evangelism like
before again. I would have loved to go on and to participate in
the whole summer-team, going out every day, but I don’t
have the time. I will have to be patient and to wait for “my“
summer-team in England.
This week
actually is very busy. There are so many things to organise and
think of that I don’t know how to do everything. And my
first priority at the moment is to finish my News and send them
out. You haven’t heard from me for such a long time and
I know, how eager most of you are to hear about the meeting with
my father.
Next Tuesday, the 25th, I will leave Vienna, together with Rainer
(he is in our team and will also do the summer-team in Bournemouth),
and by car. It’s so amazing for me
to see how God has arranged everything with our trip. We had been
looking for a third person to come with us but although there
were several interested people, nothing worked out. Then I heard
that one of the team-members in Bournemouth was looking for a
way to go to England, and that he lived exactly where we had intended
to stay for the night, not knowing yet where to stay. So I phoned
this German and he agreed to come with us (actually he lives 200
km north to that place). So, after having spent the night there,
we’ll go up to Paris (Wednesday, 26th). Then we’ll
stay there till Monday, 31st. I’m looking forward to see
my friends and “my city“ again ! I have tried to organise
Paris-London in Vienna (through the tunnel) but that turned out
to be impossible. So we’ll see how we’ll get to London
where we’ll stay till Thursday, 3rd, when the outreach will
start in Bournemouth. It will then last till the 22nd of August.
Afterwards, I’ll stay three more weeks in England, possibly
Bournemouth. I intend to start writing my biography then. Again
and again I had seen the need of passing on a testimony like mine
and I want to help people with my past. I think it’s God’s
will for me to do so. Sometimes I feel a strong urge to start
writing. Please pray for me, that the way would be clear to do
so. At the same time I would like to see some friends in England,
and have more freedom to do so with my car. I’ll then leave
England the 13th of September. Angie (who is in the IFES-team
in Vienna) and hopefully another future IFES-team member will
come back to Vienna with me then. Then I’ll have another
two weeks (of preparation) before the lectures will start again.
Now, if you’d
like to write me in summer, or see me if you’re in England,
I would be glad to hear from you. This will be my address from
now on till the 13th of September:
c/o David & Catia Smith
1 Redhill Crescent
Bournemouth
BH9 2XF
Tel.: +44 - (0) - 1202 / 53 46 80
The only thing
that didn’t work out so far, concerns my flat. I had found
somebody to stay here during those seven weeks but he has changed
his mind. Now it seems to stay empty, which means less money.
But I’m sure God will provide me again with everything I
need.
As the page
is just reaching its end, I’ll close for today (without
summary of prayer requests). I hope to hear from you soon.
May God keep
you and bless you abundantly !
Phil 4:4
With much
love in Christ,
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