On a ride to baptize a new believer, we meet up with Jon. He had no destination in mind when he got on his bike that morning to ride so he joined us. After that day the Lord just wouldn’t leave him alone. He and I met one Saturday and during our conversation he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. A few weeks later he was baptized and joined our bible training. He immediately put into action what he was taught. He would go home and start reading what he learned out loud to his wife.
His wife, Doods, had gotten her nursing degree and was enjoying life till drugs came into her life. For the past 1 ½ years Doods has been in depression so much so that she has not even left her house in this whole time. It was so bad that she would not eat or even get off the floor to bath or use the bathroom. When the smell became too much Jon would have to carry her into the bathroom to bath her and force her to eat.
At first Jon’s reading seemed to be a waist of time. But then one day Jon noticed that Doods was listening to what he read. So everyday Jon would read bible verses to his wife. Over time Doods began to sit up as Jon read, then she moved to sit next to him, then she would read along with him. One day Jon called saying that his wife was joining us at our next worship service.
When I saw Doods she was thin with no muscle tone and her eyes were sunk into her head. She was very slow to respond to questions as if it took her time to realize that anyone was even talking to her. Over several weeks she was faithful in attending our services and she and Jon would read scripture every night. She even joined us in an outreach we did. She didn’t know Jesus as her Savior from sin but she was telling people how this Jesus had helped give her life back.
One day during service Doods asked a number of questions about giving one’s life to Jesus. That night she said she fully understood the meaning of this and asked for Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of her life. She agreed to follow thru with baptism. On February 12, 2006 we road out to the beach where Doods husband, Jon, lead her out into the waters. He prayed for Doods then asking if she has fully given her life to Jesus Christ she responded YES! Jon looking his wife in the eyes said, then I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I asked Jon if he was still reading to his wife. He said no, now she is reading to me. Ha Ha We as believers know that the Word that became flesh is Jesus Christ. For Doods that Word has given her life. Praise the Lord.
Thank you for praying for the ministry that we are doing in the Philippines.
Rodney (Steelhorse) Chitwood
