Our present home with its one guest room has always been opened to missionaries seeking respite and/or ministry. Anya is one such missionary. When we told her that we found the property for the respite and currently are seeking the Lord’s provision for it, she asked us to share her testimony so people will know how important and life-changing the respite can be for other missionaries.
Here are Anya’s words describing her experience with us:
One year ago I was a missionary who was empty, frustrated and discouraged. I had just completed a very difficult mission, and it left me thinking that I was done with my mission calling. I had no emotional or financial support, and even though my church gave me their blessing, I didn’t feel supported by them. I felt that it was probably time to leave missions and find a regular job.
But I also had a desire to learn about inner healing and counseling. I met Tanie and Jacqueline Guy in 2014 when they were teaching on inner healing at the missionary school I was attending in Ukraine. That was a life changing week for me, because I finally realized the roots of my insecurity, and I discovered how God wanted to heal me and give me lasting freedom. The impact it made in my life gave me a great desire to help others.
After the difficult mission assignment of last year, God made the way for me to stay with Tanie and Jacqueline to learn more about inner healing, but I quickly came to realize that I needed healing first. I was wounded and became full of fear during that difficult mission trip, and it even got worse afterwards, because I couldn’t help myself and there was no one who could help me get through it.
During my time with Jacqueline and Tanie, they listened to me with patience, love, and hearts full of understanding and compassion. We spent time in God’s Word and prayed together, and with Jesus’ help, I received healing and restoration. I was able to get rid of all the fears and rejection I had and to hear truth from the Lord over all the lies that the enemy had made me to believe. I got my freedom back, freedom to be who God created and called me to be. Instantly, joy and life came back to me!
It did not all happen in just one day; it was a process. While I was staying in the Guys’ home, I felt safe and secure. I experienced peace and an atmosphere full of love. I was accepted and loved just the way I was, and that was very important to me, because during the months before then I was constantly experiencing rejection, which caused me to grow even more fearful of being rejected.
To Tanie and Jacqueline, I want to say:
Thank you for taking care of me and treating me in a way I’ve never experienced before in my life. I didn’t feel like I deserved it, but every day God poured out more and more love and was establishing me in my calling through you. I experienced Father’s love through you, and I’m so grateful to God that He brought us together just at the right time when the enemy was trying to stop me and convince me that I was alone with no support, leaving me discouraged and not believing in myself. But you helped me to overcome it.
I returned home not just healed, restored, refreshed and inspired to move on, but you also equipped me with the skills to help others overcome similar issues. After my time with you, the Lord called me to the country of Georgia for six months, and He did great things through me. I was able to help others receive freedom, sick people received physical healing, I was able to preach the Gospel to the broken and lost, and I saw prodigal sons and daughters come back to the Father. My heart is full of thanks to God that last year He sent me to you. You gave me shelter during the time I needed full restoration, otherwise I would probably have quit and gone back to a regular job. There are times when I think about what would have happened if I had stopped missions. I’m so happy that I didn’t, because it has allowed God to touch many people’s lives through me after that. I also want to say that it’s not only my fruit; all these fruits are yours. You always supported me in the calling God gave me, and you have helped me to move on!
I love you very much! You are the people I know I can trust and know that you accept me and believe in me, just like my Heavenly Father.
Anya B.
Missionary from Ukraine
March 2017