INDIA
My name is Soni. I come from a village in Sirsa, North India. Recently, my life has been transformed. Here is how it happened.
Several months ago, I was an active young man enjoying life. I wanted to become a teacher. One day as I traveled home, I developed a strange headache and heard buzzing in my ears. Upon arriving home, my mother gave me some pain medicine, and I went to sleep. However, I had very bad dreams as I slept. I heard voices and began hitting my head on the wall.
My parents became worried and took me to a doctor. He gave me some medicine which made me sleepy. I could feel someone pushing me. After I told my parents what was happening, they scolded me and told me to go back to sleep.
“After a few hours of prayer, I was feeling strange as if I had become lighter. I became drowsy and sleepy. I thought perhaps I had died.”
When I awoke, my head still ached. I did not know what to do. Every day I got worse. My parents kept giving me medicines the doctor prescribed, but when the effect wore off, I would run out of the house screaming and shouting.
Finally, my parents took me to a mental hospital. There doctors gave me electric shock treatments, but to no avail. The doctor said I was mentally ill and must be admitted to the hospital. However, my parents decided to take me home and again gave me medicine to make me sleep. Whenever I awakened, I would scream and bang my head.
My parents were desperate to find help. They called Muslims to perform exorcism rites over me. Yet I did not improve. One day I even tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, my mother was able to prevent me from doing this.
Eventually, one of my cousins came to visit and saw my condition. He told me, “You should go with me to the Adventist church in Dabwali. I attend this church regularly and feel relaxed and happy. God helps to solve all of my problems.”
Reluctantly, my parents allowed me to go with my cousin to church. There I met Rupinder Singh and the other members. I had heard people say, “All Christians eat meat, drink alcohol and have no morals.” But I did not see any of these things at the Dabwali church. People there looked happy and peaceful. Their food was simple vegetarian fare–rice, dal, and vegetables.
After eating, the church members gathered around me. They began to read the Bible and sing songs. My headache increased at first, and I started to hear voices in my ears. I wanted to run away, but they forced me to sit still. After a few hours of prayer, I was feeling strange as if I had become lighter. I became drowsy and sleepy. I thought perhaps I had died. Then I saw my cousin with the church members and realized that I had been healed.
I returned home very happy. When I slept that night, I did not have any problems.
My parents were overjoyed and allowed me to go to church whenever I wished. I am now fully healed and have returned to my normal life. I attend church every Sabbath and am learning more about Jesus and His many amazing ways. Now I have the desire to become a Christian. I want my parents to come to church with me. However, they are finding it difficult because they are afraid of relatives and other villagers. My mother attends church sometimes, and I pray that soon my father will attend also.
I praise God for healing me and for those who prayed with me. Please pray for me and my family.
By Soni as told to Rupinder Singh
Rupinder Singh is a Gospel Outreach evangelist working in Dabwali, North India.