Page 6 - Good News January 2011 paper

ore than ten years ago, I church meetings. danger. “Many, many times I've seen God
met Alida, who was born Alida and Pedro's church, like “We have always lived with fear,” bless and multiply what little we
Min Cuba three years after many others, was watched Alida told me, “but fear has not had!”
Fidel Castro came to power. Alida carefully, especially because conquered our hearts. Fear and Like all children in Cuba, Alida's
was “a child of the revolution,” Castro's secret agents happened high-risk circumstances were not three sons attended public
and I will never forget what she to have their office right across Alida's only problems. After the schools. The atheistic philosophy
told me. the street. From there they revolution, Cuba became in- they were taught was far different
After the Communist takeover on watched the pastor's every move. creasingly poor, and most from what the boys learned at
1 January 1959, life became Alida and Pedro were often families lacked the basic things home and in church. Sometimes
difficult for Cuba's Christian followed when they left their they needed. Cuban women had Christian children were singled
believers. When Fidel Castro house, and virtually every month no choice but to go to work, and out in class and punished for
seized the government, the Pedro was called in by the they had to work for the govern- something a whole group had
Church was cut off from the security police and interrogated. ment, since it was the only done. All their parents could do
outside world, isolated, and Alida was really afraid for her employer. It was a challenge to was to commit their children to
repressed. Alida's father was a husband's safety. When she was hold a full-time job while properly God daily and ask Him to keep
pastor, and his church suffered expecting their second child, caring for their families. them.
along with the others, but this did Pedro was once again apprehen- Household appliances, so “God heard our prayers for our
not deter Alida's parents from ded by the authorities. Though common in the Western world, children,” Alida told me. “The
instilling in their young daughter this had become almost routine, were largely unavailable. To make Holy Spirit is moving in wonderful
a desire to serve the Lord. As the usually the interrogation ses- time for God in their busy days, it ways in our country. Many
years passed, the government sions lasted only a few hours. was crucial for women like Alida teachers have testified that the
gradually began to ease its tight This time Pedro did not come to keep themselves and their witness of Christian children in
rein on the Church. home when Alida expected him. families on a strict schedule. their classrooms has affected
In her late teens, Alida went to The security police held him for a Meanwhile, Pedro became invol- their lives. We praise the Lord for
Bible College. There she fell in whole day. In her fear Alida cried ved in the unofficial distribution that.”
love with Pedro, and before long out to God. He answered her of Bibles. For security reasons, As we said good-bye, Alida had
the two were married. After through Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon Alida was one of the few people he one final thing to say to me. “You
graduation Pedro became assis- formed against you shall relied on to help him in this know,” she said, “the years that
tant pastor in his father's prosper” (NKJV). dangerous ministry. Her life was my husband and I have served the
evangelical church, and the first “Lord!” she cried, “I know you already hectic, and it was essen- Lord have not been easy. We have
four years of Alida en Pedro's spoke those words to Your people tial for her to depend on God for often faced danger, but it has
marriage were very happy. The Israel, but please make them true the provision of their family's been worth the risk. Without
newlyweds were surrounded by for my husband today.” daily needs. Sometimes she and God's Presence we could not
Christians who supported them in After hours of harassment and Pedro entertained unexpected exist. I pray daily that God will
their ministry. intimidation by the police, Pedro guests in their home, which always be first in our lives and
In 1989 the Holy Spirit moved in a finally came home late that meant providing food they often that He will not allow riches or
mighty way in Cuba. Many people evening. Alida was overjoyed to did not have. All she could do was poverty or anything else to come
came to the Lord, churches see he was alive and well, but it turn to her Father in heaven and between us. It is good to have to
overflowed, and countless house was not his last interrogation. ask Him: “Give us this day our depend on Him for everything. We
churches were born all over the During the following years, the daily bread.” have learned to live on our
country. However, with the revival Lord often reminded Alida of the When Alida described her knees.” [Singing through the
came more oppression. Govern- promise in Isaiah. At times He challenges and how they were Night, Anneke Companjen, Open
ment spies were sent to attend also warned her of imminent met, her face seemed to glow. Doors International, Revell, 2007].

n 'n Franse dorp het 'n leer- sterk ondernemingsgees en hy www.wikipedia.org
werker gewoon. Sy van was het planne begin maak. Hy wou
IBraille. Hy het 'n baie mooi iets beters uitvind.
seuntjie gehad. Sy naam was Eendag lees iemand vir hom 'n
Louis. stukkie uit 'n koerant van 'n
Eendag moes die outjie 'n skerp Franse kaptein in die weermag
els uit sy pappie se werkswinkel wat vir sekere van sy manskappe
gaan haal. Ongelukkig val hy en geleer het om bevele in die donker
die els steek in sy een ogie. Die te lees. Dit het geskied deur
oog het baie seergekry en middel van opgehewe dotjies op
infeksie het gevolg. Die ander oog papier wat hulle met hul vingers
is ook aangetas en kort daarna het kon voel.
hy heeltemal blind geword. Louis het hardop uitgeroep: “Dit
Hierdie verlies het baie smart, kan gedoen word! Dit kan gedoen
teleurstelling en droefheid vir die word! Neem my asseblief dadelik musiek kon leer speel nie. Een Sy “dotjieskrif” is vandag die
hele familie tot gevolg gehad. na daardie kaptein toe!” Na 'n aand het een van Louis se wêreldbekende Brailleskrif. Selfs
'n Blinde klein seuntjie - kan julle gesprek met hierdie kaptein het musiekstudente egter 'n musiek- die Afrikaanse Bybel is in Braille-
dink hoe baie sy ouers gehuil het? hy aan die werk gespring. Hy het uitvoering voor 'n groot gehoor skrif te kry. So kan blindes ook
Wat sou die toekoms vir hom 'n els gebruik om die dotjies op gelewer. Die gehoor het oorverdo- selfs die Bybel lees.
inhou? Hulle besluit toe om hom papier te maak. Nogal dieselfde wend hul hande van opgewon- Jongmense, wanneer teleurstel-
na 'n skool vir blindes te stuur. instrument waarmee hy sy oog denheid geklap. Die musiek was lings op ons pad kom, hoef ons
Daar gekom, vind klein Louis dat beskadig het! Kort daarna het hy pragtig! nie moedeloos te word nie. Ons
hulle die letters uit dik papier sny, homself, asook ander blindes, Ongelukkig kon Louis nie self moet die Here vra wat ons kan
dit weer op ander papier plak en geleer om te lees. teenwoordig wees nie, want hy doen om hierdie teleurstellings in
dan voel die blinde kinders met Jare later het hy ook musieknote was baie siek. Toe 'n vriend vir 'n seën te verander. Die Here sal
hul vingertjies watter letters dit is. in hierdie soort skrif gemaak. (Hy hom die nuus bring van die julle help soos Hy vir Louis gehelp
Dit het egter vreeslik baie tyd was self ‘n goeie orrelis en tjellis). geslaagde musiekuitvoering, het het.
gemors en so 'n boek vir blindes Mense het egter gesê dat dit hy van blydskap gehuil! Sy groot [Kom ons vertel Stories, Mev. J C
kon nooit regtig gedruk word nie. onsinnig was. Volgens hulle sou lewenstaak was afgehandel. 'n de Ferrières (Tant Sannie), Evan-
Louis was 'n baie slim seun met 'n niemand ooit op daardie manier Paar dae later het hy gesterf. gelie Uitgewers, 1968].