SUBJECT: Where Sin Abounded

AUTHOR: Pam Nickel serves as a Acting Principal, Women's Dean and volunteer teacher for the Davis Indian Industrial College, an Adventist, self-supporting institution in the Upper Mazaruni River district of Guyana, South America.

As I reflect on my life I see how God had been leading me towards a better life even as a child. I learned there is a God through nightly prayers my Roman Catholic parents insisted all their children perform, from singing in a church choir, and teenage week-end retreats in a Cathedral. However, it wasn't until I began worshiping God on the Sabbath and became aware of the incomparably great power for us who believe through His promises, that I was given the peace which Christ speaks about in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". (NKJ) For not one of all the good promises the Lord my God gave me has failed.

I was 18, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, saw I needed to change. I realized my life was headed nowhere, if I continued living the way I was with no concern for anyone let alone my own health and well being. I didn't own a Bible back then, so I didn't have any of His marvelous promises to cling to. I was so sure there had to be more to life than drugs, drinking and sex. I knelt down beside my bed and asked God to give me a sign and to help me change my life. He spoke to me through music. I couldn't even tell you what songs were playing on the radio that evening, but the messages were clear. They said, "I hear your prayers, I will guide you. Take the first step, stop drinking, smoking and partying and I will show you a brand new day." It took me a while to give everything up, I couldn't do it on my own. The messages continued for several months until all I could think about was the promise of a new day, if I would just step out in faith. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)

I gave myself to Christ one Spring night in 1982, and He accepted me with open arms. He said He would help me and I believed He would. "What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:30,31) Within days events took place that ultimately led me to an evangelistic meeting run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Daniel and Revelation Series. The meetings had already begun, I missed a few meetings, but was blessed that first night because it was on "Signs & Symbols". God sure used a lot of those to get me on the right road. I remember the tears of joy running down my face practically through the whole meeting. Every promise He made to me through the music became clear, I realized He really was leading me and He really did care. I never missed one meeting after that first night. I began studying the Bible, got baptized and discovered His guidance had only just begun.

For the next three years I grew spiritually and began to cultivate a relationship with Jesus. Instead of receiving messages through music, I now was able to ask for guidance by opening the Bible with a prayer through faith. Jesus always gave me encouragement or direction through His promises, especially in the books of Psalms and Proverbs. I was blessed in so many ways, but began taking these blessings for granted during my second year at Andrew's University.

One day I decided it was time for me to get married, I was 21 and met a fellow that was nice enough and said he loved the Lord too. I knelt down to ask God for His approval and the text from Matthew 6:33 practically leapt off the page, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you". I sure wish today I had listened then, all those years "wandering in the wilderness". Instead of heeding His counsel, in this very important area of my life, I went ahead and married the guy without God's approval. As it turned out God was right. I ended up getting a divorce and leaving the church too.

After 10 years of back sliding I finally asked for another chance. I had just turned 33 years old and felt my life was being wasted, at this age Christ was ready to lie down His life for me. I was missing something, I wasn't happy, I couldn't find that peace I had experienced. Time was ticking away. I was back living the same type of lifestyle I lived before I learned about the health message (NEW START), and the Three Angels Message of Revelation 14:7 -10. This time I knew what was needed in my life but the enemy wouldn't let me believe it would be easy to change. I asked Jesus to speak to me again through music because I was afraid to open a Bible, I was too sinful. I had forgotten 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners".

God is so merciful, once more I received messages from Jesus through music that warned me not to delay, to make the first step again, to clear my mind in preparation for the Holy Spirit to dwell within. It was more difficult the second time. I knew more, I had to make the decision to live for myself or live for God. I had more to lose this time. I was older. I was established in life, I had loved ones, pets, a house, a car, a good job, access to a beautiful cottage. But I was being impressed that time was running out and began to fear I would miss out on the promise of eternal life. I was receiving urgent messages that probation was closing soon and to please hurry back before it was too late with a vision in my mind of the people back in Noah's time pounding on the Ark after the rains began to fall.

With the fear of God and His judgement weighing heavily on my heart I asked for His mercy and help. I was encouraged to ask for the relationship I had with God to be re-established. I prayed that if I was to change my life, by giving up all these worldly pleasures, I didn't want to be a hot & cold Christian but a true child of God. I wanted to go all the way – to believe with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I wanted to give the next year or so as an offering of my sincerity. Since for the past 10 years I hadn't paid any tithe, I wanted to give the next full year or more to the Lord doing volunteer work wherever He wanted me to go. I figured if I was a missionary somewhere, anywhere, I would have to totally depend on God, therefore, my relationship would grow stronger. I started looking for my old books and addresses to people I hadn't made contact with in years. I found my favorite daily devotional "Our High Calling" and "Thoughts From The Mount of Blessing", by E.G. White and started to claim His promises again. I began with Isaiah 6:8 "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (NKJ) I began packing.

I returned to Andrews University on faith from the assurance I was receiving from many such promises that were given to me by the Holy Spirit. I was reminded that the Bible is ageless, every promise written, even from the beginning, can be claimed in faith today. I began to believe in His love for me. "For I know the plans I have for you,... plans to prosper you... to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) and Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". I worked as a volunteer for the Family Life International at Andrews University for the summer and was re-baptized in Lake Michigan at dawn on July 18, 1998. On August 15th during Sabbath service at the Pioneer Memorial Church I got the "call" and on September 15th stepped off the plane as a missionary teacher for the Davis Indian Industrial College in the interior jungles of Guyana, South America.

Today, by the grace of God, I teach 30 Amer-Indians English and thank God everyday for His love and mercies. The peace I have longed for has returned ten fold, and I hope you will ask Him into your life today for the privilege of living for a Saviour who knows and cares. "The promise of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:30 (NRSV)

Yours sincerely,

Pam Nickel
P.O. Box 10191
Georgetown, Guyana
South America

You may send E-mail to Pam at: gates@andrews.edu or GAMAS@solutions2000.net

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