by Nilda Rivera

Hi, I’d like to share with you what God has done with my weakness. I was born with a disability called Spina Bifida, (an open spine) which has caused paralysis from the waist down. I lived with my biological family until the age of 5 yrs old. I was then put in Foster Care because the state felt I would receive better financial assistance for medical care. I stayed in 4 different homes until the age of 18 (2 of which were relatives). In the 1^st family I was with I endured much physical and emotional abuse. I stayed with that family for 1-1/2 yrs.

When I was 7 I went to live with another family. I was a very scared and lonely unwanted young girl when I came to live with this family. I also felt very unloved. This family was different; as they were very nice and caring. The next evening (after moving in with them) I found out why they were so nice and caring. They knew Jesus and that evening I came to know and receive Him also as my personal Savior! I lived with them until I was 14 and then because of behavior issues, I went to live with my aunt and uncle. They weren’t Christians, so I found it easy to “go with the flow” and I backslid for 10 yrs. Those were some really tough years. Oh, I went to church and taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, even directed a children’s choir. Yet I wasn’t living for the Lord. You see, it was easy to live for the Lord within the family that was also living for the Lord. However, I didn’t have a personal relationship with the Lord.

During these backslidden years I endured sexual abuse from a relative. I had become a liar and cursed like a sailor. When I was 24 and on my own, after a chain of events I found myself in that place of feeling scared, lonely, unloved and unwanted. While I was at the mall one day a man came up to me, handed me a track and asked me “If you were to die today would you go to heaven”? I answered “I don’t know, I hope so”. You see, I had gotten to the place where I didn’t know if God would take me back (scary place to be). That night I went home and found a small KJV Bible that my foster parents had given me. I hadn’t read the Bible on my own for a long time. (I feel led to mention that at 4 different times in my life I contemplated suicide.) I went to bed took the track given to me by the man at the mall and began looking up the Scriptures. I then put down the track and my Bible and rededicated my life to the Lord as I prayed I could literally feel my heart fill up with joy and peace. I don’t ever want to go back to that lonely place again.

God has done a lot of amazing things in my life since then. Remember this is the testimony of God’s power in my weakness. Oh, there’ve been valleys, but the difference is that I haven’t gone through these valleys alone; Jesus has walked through them with me. I’ve worked for Milwaukee County Government for over 16 years; I currently work for the Mental Heath Complex in the Business office. I’ve had opportunities to teach a Bible study in Spanish, also to work in a ministry for people like myself who have disabilities (God had to do a work in me as I had pride in my heart re; others with disabilities). Also, I’ve been able to work with other women who have experienced past abuse. I sense the Lord leading me to minister to others through song and speaking (traveling). The Lord led me to go thru Bible ministry training and in 2007 I received my Ministerial credentials thru the Assemblies of God “To God Be the Glory”! Always Remember this:

GOD LOVES YOU

GOD MADE YOU

AND GOD DOESN’T MAKE ANY JUNK!

Please pray for the following this week:

Ben B’s health

Bill M and Josh H are fighting for their lives as they battle cancer.

Charlie H had a motorcycle accident and lost his wife. He is currently recovering in a hospital.

Dee C and her family - loss of a daughter and home damage

NJ Get Away

Scotty J - back problems

Tom L. - stress test and health concerns

Travel mercies for leadership team

Blessings,

Bradley A Mattrisch and the National Leadership Team