Praise God, I first came to Vincentian prayer house in January 2010 after being referred by a stranger. I was in need of a job and I did not understand why I could not get a job even after pursuing my masters degree abroad in Food Science and Nutrition. When I met a Priest for guidance, he told me what I needed was not a job but healing after being cheated which was very true. The priest gave me Bible verses to pray daily, asked me to attend a retreat and from that I started my journey of faith. I was born a Christian though I never understood so many things around me and after being sexually abused when I was 3 years and also the better part of my childhood I carried wounds within me which made a fearful person, with very low self esteem and withdrawn. I had no one to direct me so I faced life blindly. I engaged in some wrong relationships which only increased my wounds. Having come from a background of witchcraft, polygamy, family hatred; I was a walking wounded stick. God however blessed me with education and even a scholarship to abroad where I acquired a masters degree. Unfortunately when I went abroad, I wanted to know more about church, I got friends and they told me all the wrong things about church, I approached a priest who I felt lied to me; I was confused and in the process I lost my faith. Later I was engaged to a divorced man who was also an atheist and I also became one. For 3 years I lived fully in the world, never going to church nor praying; in fact I used to preach to people and show them how there is no God. But before I stopped praying I told God I was confused if He exist to please one day come for me even if I will be under the bed, for sure he came a stone hit hard on my head, this man threw me out. By then I was broken and wanted to commit suicide and that is when I came to VPH after trying so many miracle churches, I was almost being conned or getting in cults.
I attended almost all the 2010 retreats and most of the Saturday services. I came to know:
- how to make a good confession
- Sin is my only problem
- Love of God
- why I should forgive and love my enemies
- How to pray
- Idol worship
- The only thing I should strive for in this world is love God and be holy
- the effects of family tree and being a repairer
- Suffering and the graces which can be derived from it among others.
After attending retreats up to April 2011 and under God’s guidance I have:
- Got my faith back
- Healed of breast inflammation
- Got a job in April 2011
- I stopped drinking alcohol
- Healed most of my inner wounds
- been able to forgive and love all people
- got my own house and can sustain myself financially
- I love to pray, attend daily mass, adoration
- I can now read the bible; in my life I never read the bible.
- got a spiritual director who has walked me with through thick and thin
- I have peace of mind and in my family
- Have been able to do away with some of my friends and God has given me other friends who we share the same faith.
- Been able to bring my father to the Thika centre though he has not changed I believe God communicated what he wanted
- Above all I have to love God for who He is
- God also gave me a special gift of getting scripture verses through Holy Inspirations when praying or attending mass or when faced with some situations.
I do not have much as I used to be but I feel richer than ever in my life. Though now I am not able to attend retreats, I always strive to attend Saturday services and the residential retreat. VPH has changed an atheist to a person who now has only two places on earth; church and work, though I now have few friends, at least I have God and that is enough for me. God gave me one penance; as I went going round talking against him, I now can not stop talking about him, my friends tell me I am boring. I do not have enough words to say what I have experienced since i stepped in VPH but ALL GLORY TO JESUS. “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)