Lynette
From: Auckland, New Zealand
It was a miracle I survived!
As I grew into my teens, I made a lot of bad decisions. When I was in high school I started smoking which progressed to smoking pot and drinking too much at parties, just to try to fit in with my friends, thinking I was cool.
One night I made one of those bad decisions which was to completely change my life. I went to a party out of town in Tokoroa, New Zealand, without my parent’s permission.
On the way home, I piled into a car with 10 other teenagers; I was 15 years old. The driver had been drinking and was driving up to 160 km per hour. As he turned a corner, he lost control. The car hit a power pole, then hit a bank and was airborne for 40 metres before it came to a halt by crashing into another power pole. Only two of the 11 teenagers were left in the car, one of whom was killed instantly; the others were thrown from the vehicle.
I ended up in the middle of the road. Moments later a car approached and the driver, sensing something was wrong, swerved off of the road to avoid running over me. I lay on the road with a broken neck, three breaks in my pelvis, a broken collar bone, a cracked rib, two breaks in my jaw, smashed teeth, my chin cut open to the inside of my mouth, and gravel crushed into the skin on my legs.
It was a miracle I survived! I cannot remember anything from that night. I had complete amnesia. I was unconscious for three days and was in hospital for 2 1/2 months, losing 2 stone in weight. Coming close to death was terrifying. I didn’t want to die. God’s grace kept me alive.
When I left hospital, my life had changed. I had constant pain in my neck and back and got cramps in my hand. My pelvis clicked as I walked. I lived on painkillers and ended up smoking a lot of marijuana in an effort to alleviate the continual pain. I was advised by doctors not to play any sport because if I banged my neck I risked being paralyzed, or even dying. I was also told I would not be able to give birth naturally because of my damaged pelvis.
I had a lot of fear in me and silently prayed whenever I was scared. I remember one night going to bed and looking up at the stars. I called out to God wanting to know why this had happened to me and with all my heart I opened up to God, really wanting his help, his love and his forgiveness.
An amazing sense of peace came over me and I started to speak a lot of strange words I didn’t understand. I didn’t know what to do about this experience so I shelved it away. Five years later, I learned I had received the Holy Spirit that night and had spoken in another language (called “speaking in tongues” in the Bible).
I tried to live my life as best I could. I got a job, hung out with my friends, continued smoking pot and partying. I was thankful to be alive, but despite the attempts to fill myself up, deep down there was always a sense of emptiness.
One day while I was living in Hamilton, I met a group of Christians from Auckland. They told me about miracles of healing, forgiveness, being baptized (burying your old life in the waters), and receiving the Holy Spirit. They said the Holy Spirit could come and live inside me and be my Comforter. I was really touched by these words and I could see that these people seemed to have a real relationship with Jesus. It all made sense and seemed so simple.
They invited me to a meeting the next day. When I arrived, I felt like I had come home; the warmth and love was so real. I read the scriptures in the Bible and listened intently to the message. Whilst I was there, a crippled man that used two walking sticks came to his first meeting as well. A tractor had fallen on him many years before, leaving him a cripple. I watched in amazement as he had hands laid on him and was instantly healed, touching his toes and walking freely!
I discovered that all the answers to life I had been looking for were in the Bible. I could clearly see I had to change my life to be right with God. Eventually I decided I needed to be baptized by being fully immersed in water and hand over my old life to God and start afresh.
I wanted to be forgiven for all the things I had done in my life and I believed that God would work a miracle with my broken body. This was the best decision I ever made in my life.
When I was baptized, I felt amazingly clean inside and I felt as though a big load had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt a strong tingling right through my body. I spoke in tongues again and felt an amazing sense of peace. My body was instantly healed at that moment. My pelvis stopped clicking, my bones seemed strong, and I had the biggest smile on my face that wouldn’t go away! I knew my life had completely changed from that moment. I lost the desire to drink alcohol and I instantly stopped swearing. I was transformed and I sensed a new purpose to my life. I wanted to give instead of take. God was changing and molding me into the person he wanted me to be. Some other old habits took a little longer to die, but God showed me I didn’t need to get stoned anymore and I soon lost my addiction to smoking cigarettes.
I started to put my trust in God each day and to pray in the new spiritual language I had received. This gave me inner strength and guidance.
I moved up to Auckland and got a job as a nurse aid which involved heavy lifting. I experienced no problems with my back or neck. I then got a job selling clothes door-to-door, lifting eight large suitcases in and out of my car. I also played netball. My body was healed and was strong again.
Three years later, God blessed me with a loving Christian husband, Rex, and we had 2 beautiful children, both delivered naturally. During my first pregnancy, I discovered I had cancer cells on my cervix and would need treatment after my baby was born. I trusted God that I would be healed and when my son was born the cancer cells were flushed out. I was completely healed. Praise God! That was 26 years ago.
Another amazing incident happened 15 years ago. We were holidaying in Queenstown and went on a horse trek through rough terrain. Suddenly, my 8-year-old daughter’s horse bolted, then my 11-year-old son’s horse bolted. I immediately called on God to protect them. My son flew off his horse and Rex managed to get off his horse to attend to him. Our guide rode ahead to assist our daughter whose horse bolted about 200m. The horse had somehow managed to slow down at a fence in time for the guide to grab her as they both tumbled to the ground. In the confusion, my horse panicked, too, into a full-on gallop. I was thrown off and temporarily knocked unconscious. But, apart from a broken wrist, I miraculously survived the fall with no damage to my neck or pelvis. I thank God that he delivered us all from what could easily have been a tragedy.
It’s been 34 years since I was born again and what a fulfilling life it has been! God has blessed every area of my life. We now operate a very successful fishing charter boat. I have found that having a relationship with Jesus has given me peace and victory in every area of my life. Whatever happens, I know Jesus will be there to help me. The Holy Spirit gives me power and everlasting life. And, this experience is there for all who want it!
I have prayed for many people who have been filled with the Holy Spirit and healed. God is a loving and gracious God. The greatest joy in my life is to reach out to others, sharing my story and telling them what God can do for them.