Gary’s voice broke often during the memorial services for Bonnie, but at one point, he shouted as he proclaimed, “So many people think [Bonnie’s] death was a waste . . . but we believed that coming here with the message of Jesus would never be a waste. . . . I will take this message as long as I live. The tomb’s empty! Bonnie is dancing with Jesus!”
This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
(1 John 5:11-13)
5
brittany hamilton
Confidence in God
Brittany Hamilton accepted Christ when she was seven years old, but she never dreamed she would need to lean on the Lord so severely in the early years of her faith.
On October 25, 1994, when Brittany was nine, she waited for her mother to pick her up from school. Kathleen Hamilton was always on time. Brittany waited and waited, knowing in her gut that something was terribly wrong. Her parents had driven out together that morning, looking for a good spot to hunt deer for an upcoming hunting trip. But they should have been back in time to pick her up. At 5:30, the secretary from Brittany’s church picked her up and took her to see her pastor.
“Your parents have been in a train accident, Brittany, and your mom went to be with the Lord.” Brittany remembers crying but not fully understanding. Pastor Frank then took her to the hospital where her dad was in a coma and not expected to live more than four or five days. Everyone who cared for Brittany was there to comfort her. But nothing seemed real. In just a matter of minutes, Brittany lost her loving mother and faced the reality that she might lose her dad as well.
Miraculously, Gary Hamilton survived. But Brittany soon learned that her father was paralyzed. No more playing outside with Dad. No more walks together. And because he had to endure many months of rehab, Brittany would have to wait to feel the warmth of her father’s hugs.
Brittany finally moved into the hospital quarters so she didn’t have to be separated from her dad anymore. She saw some of the difficult, painful medical procedures that her father had to undergo. The therapist often just pushed him out of his wheelchair to see how he coped. She hated how they treated him.
When she became discouraged, Gary reminded his daughter that some in the hospital were even worse off than he was. Some had no feeling at all and couldn’t ever hug their children again. He had the blessing of being able to use his limbs and hold Brittany on his lap. The bond between them grew through the struggles, and God knitted their hearts together for His purposes.
Gary felt Brittany needed some time away from the hospital. Her aunt and uncle had a ranch in Wyoming, and they invited her to come visit for the summer. They had horses and Brittany learned to ride. She fell in love with the sport and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors. “I think God gave me horses so I would be less focused on the loss of my mother,” she says. “I could ride for hours looking over the vast canyon all around me. I just let the beauty minister to me, and I bonded with my horse. My horse listened to me cry, yell, and scream. I was angry, sad, and all those things you would expect. It’s amazing, but horses really do listen. Their ears flicker, letting you know they hear you. My horse was a much-needed companion.”
Today, Brittany is nineteen years old. She now has three horses and competes in local rodeo events. Trophies line her living-room shelves, attesting to her strong will and dedication. The proud owner of Snazzy, a grand champion, Brittany also has aspirations to compete for Miss Rodeo America.
Most of her events are on Sundays, but she is able to participate in Christian ministries for those on the rodeo circuit. “My dad has reminded me that even though it is difficult to miss church, I can still share my faith with others,” she says. “God has promised us that wherever two or three are gathered, there He is in our midst.” Brittany is involved with a program called Women Behind Cowboys, which encourages young girls to stay in the Word and to run the real race, which is for Christ.
Brittany also has completed a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program and is working at her local hospital. “I saw how some of the medical staff treated my dad, and I decided I want to spend my life caring for people.” Brittany plans to attend the University of Wyoming to further study nursing and equine nutrition.
Many of the whys of the accident are still puzzling. The engineer operating the train was not at the front of the train when the Hamiltons’ car was hit. He didn’t see them coming, and then it was too late to stop. Why did God allow man’s carelessness to have such a devastating outcome? What if the Hamiltons had come along just a few minutes earlier? God could have spared Brittany from loss and grief. Why would a loving God allow this to happen to a young girl?
With a humble disposition, Brittany admits that it has been very hard to accept everything, and she still struggles with the effects of the accident on her life.
“I still miss my mom. To me, she was an angel. I remember she was good to everyone she met. She always was upbeat, and I never wanted to leave her side. Yes, I would love to have my mom back, but I know I wouldn’t be who I am and who God has made me to be.
“I still struggle with why it had to happen, but I’ve learned God will never give me more than I can handle. I could have chosen to hate God and could be living apart from God’s best for me. But for some reason, God has blessed me and chosen to entrust me with the great responsibility of caring for my dad.”
Brittany admits that many of her friends have not understood the weight of her responsibilities. Her schedule does not look like that of a typical teenager because she has to run her home: wash laundry, cook, and clean. She makes it a priority to be home by 10:30 to tend to her dad’s medical needs. She has lost friends who get tired of Brittany’s demanding schedule. With conviction, Brittany has always told them, “Sorry, my dad is more important than bowling.”
Though the struggles continue, Brittany’s faith is strong and real. “The accident has given me the opportunity to find strength and confidence I would not have known otherwise. When my dad and I are out together at horse shows, we share our faith. People see the bond between us. And we know, without the Lord, we wouldn’t be here together.”
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
(Psalm 23:1-3)
WEEK TEN JOURNAL
• What areas of your life would you like to see changed?
• How can someone surrender difficult areas of her life to God?
• If you were to surrender completely to Him, how would you know that God will take care of you, no matter what happens?
• In your view, what is a costly sacrifice? Why would someone make a sacrifice like that?
• What Bible verse or passage of Scripture has been most meaningful to you this week? Why?
week eleven
1
purnima
Faith Despite Sorrow
When only thirteen, Purnima found herself having to say good-bye to her parents. She had professed her faith in Christ, and officials demanded she either denounce her faith or leave Bhutan. She knew she could not deny Christ. He was the only one who could save her.
The officers interrogated Purnima and thirty-four other believers, asking the same questions over and over. “Why do you want to be a Christian? This is a Buddhist country, and you have dishonored us by accepting this foreign religion.” She and the others were given five days to leave their homes and go to Nepal. Christians were labeled “traitors,” and the other villagers openly attacked them.
A year before, Purnima’s parents had forced her out of their home. Purnima was the daughter of a witch doctor, who led the village in rituals and performed animal sacrifices to drive out evil spirits. Her older sister, Maya,
had suffered a serious illness, and she watched her father perform Buddhist rituals and sacrifice chickens for three years, calling on the spirits to heal his daughter. It never worked. Purnima could not understand why nothing her father did appeased the gods.
Miraculously, Maya was healed, but not through the incantations of a witch doctor. Maya claimed that Jesus had healed her. Maya’s husband, Sival, had a Bible and they had prayed for Jesus to heal her. Purnima’s father was so enraged at such a claim, he kicked Maya and Sival out of the home. Their newfound faith was a disgrace to the family. Purnima was heartbroken when they left, and no one was allowed to mention Maya in the home.
Soon, there was news that Sival and Maya had a baby boy. Purnima knew they lived outside the village and couldn’t keep away from her sister any longer. She had to go meet her nephew! Her curiosity about Maya’s new faith remained. What kind of God would just heal, asking nothing in return? How did Sival and Maya have such strength to stand against their families and leave Buddhism?
Purnima cut across fields, hiding in the brush so she could remain out of sight. When Maya opened the door to their small hut, she embraced her little sister with joy. The visits continued, and Maya began reading stories from the Bible to her sister. Purnima was fascinated with the story of Moses. He left his home to become a mouthpiece for God. She wondered what God would have her do if she were a Christian.
Finally, Purnima’s mother confronted her. “We know what you are doing. I’ve lost one daughter, and I don’t want to lose another. Do you understand?” Her mother explained how Christianity was for a lower class of people and not acceptable to their family or their country. But Purnima couldn’t keep away from her sister. She kept visiting and hearing more about Jesus.
That Christmas, Sival and Maya invited her over for a small celebration. There, she accepted Jesus as Savior and wanted to be baptized.
Maya was overjoyed for her sister but also feared what might happen to her. At first, she thought it might be best for Purnima to keep her faith to herself and not tell her parents. But Purnima knew she could never hide it. It was too real. Maya offered to go with her, but her little sister was determined to do it alone. She walked home and blurted out, “Mom, I’m a Christian.” Her mother thought she was joking but soon realized it was true. That evening, her parents forced her to leave home.
As she began her journey, she could hear her mother crying. Purnima knew her mother really did still love her. She lived with Maya and Sival until the arrests of Christians began. But then she had to prepare to leave Bhutan.
She wanted to see her parents just one more time. She quietly opened her front door. “Mom? Mom, it’s me.” Her mother grabbed her and tears flowed as she held her tightly. “Please tell me you are not a Christian any longer.” Purnima was silent for a while and finally knew she had to tell her she was leaving Bhutan. Her mother looked at her, asking, “How can you be so brave? You are so young and innocent.” Her father entered the room, giving her a roll of money. He told her to be careful and quietly left.
Purnima stayed a few more minutes, desperately trying to memorize her mother’s face. She didn’t know if she would gaze into her eyes or hear her sweet voice again. They embraced one last time and Purnima slipped into the dark night, darting through the familiar fields one last time.
In the morning, she joined eight other believers who were also being forced to leave. They got on a bus and were dropped off near the border. There would be no more contact with home. Making their way toward Nepal, they journeyed sorrowfully, crying silent tears. Purnima cried herself to sleep each night, thinking of her village and her family. Every night she had vivid dreams of her mother. She just wanted to be her little girl again.
One night she was awakened by a heavy boot slamming into her side. She didn’t know how many bandits were attacking them, but her small group did not resist. The men had guns and lined them up, ordering them to close their eyes. They obeyed, wondering if they would be shot. Finally, they opened their eyes to find the gunmen had left, stealing all they had. Everyone had lost all his or her money, except Purnima. She had hidden the money her father gave her very well.
The next morning, they were able to get a ride to Nepal with Purnima’s money. The group was thankful for the young girl’s bravery and wit. The group used the ride to catch up on sleep. Purnima was thankful the thieves had not taken her Bible. She read about Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt, giving her courage to face another day on the run.
The truck stopped to refuel, so everyone got out to walk and stretch. They ran into a pastor and shared their story. The pastor was particularly sympathetic to young Purnima. He asked her companions if he could invite her to live with his family. Purnima was grateful but she still missed her family desperately.
A few months later, the pastor took her to a Christian conference. She was elated to see Sival! Now she could live with her sister. The pastor tried to convince Purnima to stay with him, knowing she would end up living in a refugee camp. Purnima understood that what he said was true but wanted to be with family more than anything. Sival led his sister-in-law to their camp on the northern border. There the sisters were reunited, shrieking with joy.
While Purnima loved being with Maya and Sival, she hated the conditions of the camp. Despair seemed to be all around. Thousands of families were living in severe poverty. But Maya assured her that they could make a difference and share Jesus with the refugees. Purnima began sharing her faith with others, soon forgetting the deplorable living situation.
She couldn’t help it. Purnima knew the rules of the camp, but she had to share the love of Jesus. Purnima soon found herself occupying a prison cell for spreading her faith in Nepal. Even in the lowest pit, which seemed like hell itself, this young brave girl brought others to Christ. She was released after fourteen months and sixteen days, and she still lives with Maya and Sival, hoping one day to share the gospel with her mother.
So young, so experienced in serving and suffering for Christ: Purnima has proven that no cost is too great. She gladly gives all for her faith, despite her sorrow.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
(Ephesians 6:10-11)
2
amanda purcell
Obeying When it Hurts
Amanda Marie Purcell grew up in a home where God was honored and loved. She prayed to receive Jesus in elementary school. “From that point on,” she said, “it was my choice, not my parents, that persuaded me to follow God.”
It was in the throes of adolescence that she felt His nearness in a unique way. During her junior year of high school, Amanda started dating a guy she’d known since eighth grade. Even though this boy had once run with a bad crowd, he apparently had turned his life around. Amanda felt drawn to him, particularly because he seemed needy. “We began talking, and we hit it off really well and ended up going out. Our relationship was always fun, extremely simple,” she says. “We even prayed together and read Christian books.”
But there was a problem: his anger. It prevented him from progressing in his walk with Jesus, and Amanda could see it. “I was in a relationship with an awesome guy—he was fun, good-looking, and loved Jesus. Our personalities fit well together, but at the same time he wasn’t moving forward in knowing Jesus more. His anger would get the best of him. Instead of my moving forward in my walk with Christ, I was using all my forward momentum to bring him up to my level.”
One weekend, Amanda sensed it was time to break up. “No one ever came up to me and suggested it. It was just a God moment where I knew He was talking to me.”
She broke up with the boy two days shy of their dating six months. “I can’t explain the grief I felt at that moment,” she says. “I wasn’t breaking up with him because I didn’t like him. I wasn’t breaking up with him because he was mean to me. He never took his anger out on me. He treated me like a princess. The only reason
I broke up with him was that God was telling me to.”
After a year of grieving—crying every day for three months, and off and on for nine more—Amanda realized how glad she was that she made the choice to obey God. There were times during that year that her heart grew cold toward the Lord. “Sometimes I wondered why God had me break up with him. I couldn’t see how it was helping me. I thought I had broken up with him so I could grow closer to God, but I felt farther from Him than ever before because my heart was so focused on the loss.”
She realizes today where her life would be if she had kept dating the boy. “I would be thousands of steps behind where I was then if I were still with him now,” she said. “I praise God that He gave me enough strength to get through that time.”
Amanda now spends her time working with inner-city kids in the Eugene, Oregon, area. She started a dance group at her home church. Along with several other leaders, Amanda teaches kids how to dance for Jesus. They perform once a month and have a short Bible study each week after practice. Amanda has seen several kids grow in their relationships with God.
Even in the midst of serving Jesus, loving kids who need Him and glorifying Him through the arts, Amanda has had to learn to dig deeper in her faith. Instead of ministry driving her to the feet of Jesus, she got wrapped up in the excitement of ministry—of reaching kids. “I began to do it for the kids. I did it so we could have another cool ministry.”
Eventually she came to see how important it was to serve Jesus for His sake and glory, not for her own, not for a sense of accomplishment. Amanda asked herself some tough questions. Is this ministry good? Do I love Jesus with my whole heart? “Yes and yes,” she answered. “But was I tithing my time and efforts to the right thing? No. I was not doing it for the sole purpose of praising God.”
She came to the place where she wanted only Jesus. “That’s my prayer,” she said. “I always want to be seeking Jesus, sitting at His feet, knowing and loving Him more.”
Sister Freaks Page 19