How hungry are you??

God has truly sent this precious woman into my life to encourage me, challenge me, humble me, and cause me to check my own walk with the Lord, Beauty is her name. To the physical eye, she is a beautiful person with her bubbly smile, joyous laugh, and her quite petite stature. Her testimony is one that must be shared and I am honored to do so.
Last year at a meeting, Beauty shared that in 2007 her husband had left her and their nine children for another woman. She continued by sharing that she did not chase after him, she simply prayed day after day that he would come home to her. After two weeks, her husband came home weeping and begging for her forgiveness. She accepted him with open arms and their relationship was strengthened. She then began praying that her husband would stop drinking and smoking. She prayed day after day and God answered her prayer. She knew that her husband was living without the Lord. She prayed for his salvation and soon he prayed to receive Christ. She completed this portion of her testimony by saying, "Mulungu adziwa! Adziwa! Akonda ine ndi anayankha ine!" "God he knows! He knows! He loves me and He answered me!"

"In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."  

1 Peter 3:1-4

 She then continued. In 2008, people were meeting at their church in their village, Pwe Pwe. Many people were coming and the church was growing. Her husband was the deacon and things were going well. All of the sudden people stopped coming and they didn't really know why. One night some people from the village came and burned the church down. Beauty and her husband were devastated. They began to pray and they began to build the church again. The two of them worked hard and built another church because they were determined for there to be a place for people to worship. For over a year, their family went every Sunday and had church in that building, although no one else would come. They worshiped and prayed together as a a family and prayed for their village.  God answered their prayer and the people returned to the church.

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

August 25, 2010, I was able to see Beauty again after almost a year of not seeing her. When I saw her, something was missing. There was a deep sadness in her eyes. I went to her, put my arm around her and began to ask her how she was. She then told me that on July 11, 2010 her husband passed away leaving her with the nine children. His family took all of their money and their cattle. She looked into my eyes with tears, I wrapped my arms around her small, frail, 4'9" frame and wept with her. Words did not come to my mind, nothing that I could say would bring her comfort. Just at that moment she looked at me and said, " I didn't have any money to come to this meeting and I didn't care if I didn't eat for four days, I just wanted to hear the Word of God taught. I am hungry for God's Word."

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.'"  John 6:35 

How would you live your life if you faced these trials all within three years?

She is small in stature, her joy is overflowing, faithfulness is abundant, pain is inexpressible, but she knows that God not only hears her prayers, but He loves her, provides for her, and has never left her.
I am humbled at the fact that I have never heard her complain. The women that live around her testify of her faithfulness to the Lord. She faces every situation in prayer and when she prays she believes!And when I am suffering, do I really only desire to be in the midst of fellow believers studying God's Word and worshiping the Creator? I know that should be my heart's desire and my friend and sister in Christ, Beauty has reminded me of the importance of making Jesus LORD of my life.
Praise the Lord for Beauty's faithfulness to the Lord. Pray for her as she raises nine children and provides for them.