I accepted my Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour in 27th October 2017. He brought me my salvation and freed me from the bondage of this world. Christ in my heart freed me from smoking and brought me freedom. I could not have on my own. My Lord Jesus Christ has turned my life around. In His Word I see the reflection of myself. I hope people might not understand the freedom I have by Christ my Lord, and in a way that everything’s easy.

From the life of my own understanding to the life my Lord Jesus Christ want for me needs total submission that will not work out without faith and repentance. And all of that will not happen without taking the first step.Before Christ I was hopeless. Not knowing what I was living for because the life I lived, I lived it not knowing that I am falling in a deep hole. A hole I did not know how I can rescue myself from. I lived knowing i am sinking low and low.

It’s been a year being a believer. Although I am incarcerated, I feel warm freedom inside me. This freedom brought me (joy and peace within me. That makes me happy, because I know that my name is written in the Book of Life. And it’s all because of the grace of God. The gift I don’t deserve because of my nature of sin, but through the glory of God, Christ cleansed all for those who faithfully put their trust in Him. Who work out their own salvation with fear, in God’s will.

The first day I joined the RU program I did not know what God wanted for my life I saw everything happening and I know it was the control of God taking part in my life. I did not really understand what was happening in y life.On 30th October 2017 was my first day not smoking after being saved. Up until now I’m free from the bondage of smoking. It was not easy as the way to start smoking. My Lord Jesus’ Christ was with me throughout all.

And then came another barrier before me. My coach and team mates were not happy of my not coming to soccer field on Sundays, because I am a believer. It took a long time to realize that God does not want me to play soccer anymore but to serve Him. One day (Sunday) I went to the soccer field, that day they did not include me in the team that will play. I realized that day that God does not want me to play soccer anymore. But, as I promised God that on Sundays I will be at Church, I have to. I remember feeling very guilty that Sunday. Something I have realized by the way God did me a big favour by allowing me to be incarcerated by dragging me to New Hanover Correctional Centre and dragging me to get to know Him. That’s something I know.

I was one of the people who were running away from the gift which God is trying so hard to give to them. For me, God knew that by putting me in such a place I will gladly receive His gift, although I hate it being incarcerated God’s grace is good. So much has happened in the journey God has given me. Pastor Minnaar said that to God we are like onions, and God reveals each and every layer that is rotten and He peels it out. And that does not happen in a second, it can take years.

God deserves all the glory for His marvellous work in my life. It’s God’s grace. I’m saved, because God is merciful. He did not give up on me! This just reminds me of 2 peter 3.9, yah God wants everyone to repent but it is all about accepting that Lord Jesus Christ paid for our sins. Not only paid for the debts of our sins but given us His grace, salvation, redeeming us to righteousness we should walk in because this world is in darkness needs much more the light of God shining through from His servant He has chosen.

The Truth, my Light, Lord and my Saviour has changed my life. Although sin nature is a troubling situation, we have a solution only found in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And we don’t have to hide our sins from Him. Not only sharing our sins with Him, and share our hardships and most importantly give Him the praises He deserves for putting us in a victorious positions. What a great relationship my Lord wants from me. God help me to be obedient to you.

There’s important part I like about my journey. That part about staying fit. A fit servant of God. God wants us to stay fit. To stay fit we have to spend time in God’s word, have prayer times, obedience to God and witness our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Minnaar gave me a book to read which taught me much more about how to stay fit in my spiritual walk ‘what every Christian should know about growing’ by Leroy Eims, it has important basics steps of discipleship arming believers for victory in Christ. My point is Lord Jesus Christ is continuing to grow me. Therefore, He does not make one a believers and leave him like that. He makes sure that He takes His servants to the next level at some point and protects them forever.
There was a time before I was saved, at Westville Centre, whereby I felt so depressed for a long time ( since arrested in 2014 I was so depressed) I was not a first time offender, but arrested for rape was like drawing me down into a deep hole. I felt hard times were splitting me apart. I used to pray at night, and I started to ask God to remove me from Westville to a better institution. And I promised God to serve Him. I prayed this prayer for a long time, crying, not knowing where I want to go. I did not write the transfer request but my wrong doings put me in a situation whereby being transferred to New Hanover. I continued with the life I was living at Westville. Not for long God came back and drag me to Him to serve.

God work in healing in powerful ways, because when I look back at how i was I am amazed how God has changed me completely. Not that I am facing challenges because the life I am living now is so much difficult, guess what? I like this difficult life God gave me. Because it’s made me know what God wants from me how to move away good life leading to worse ending. For the life that is found in the only Truth, Life, Light, Saviour My Lord Jesus Christ.

I lost contact with my family in 2015 and God helped me through one official, who helped find my family contacts. For two years not talking with my family, I know that God made this happen because |He knows I would need my family. Although being incarcerated there are jobs we do. I was working garden which helped me buy cosmetics, got paid R90 a month. It helped me, I was given a new span at the storeroom which is a better pay than gardening and I want to thank God for that, because I don’t have visitors.

God has made a way for me at some point feeling down God will do something to remove all that. I understand this and know these are God’s doings. Because I am God’s now and know He’s the one who can do that for me. That is called FAITH. I know without God I am nothing and know that through the Lord Jesus Christ I am God’s. And know that’s called the grace of God. Because i don’t deserve what is happening to me, because I am a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who brought my dead spirit alive. He’s the one who will help me grow and stay fit so that I will serve Him; and serve Him in the times of adversity for victory, He is Victory.