Testimony from Anna Zuks

Dear Ken,
Your words are always of interest to me and many times I have felt the words
from a fresh look at Jesus were written just for me. Today, a I read your
request, I began thinking, and wondering if the experiences in my life I
would be able to put down on paper.
Some very dramatic things have happened, and as most common, very subtle
things have happened.
Some of the most dramatic and heart stopping moments happened while I was in
the Azores.
As was my custom, I was spending time with the youth on the mountain top of
MT Brasil,
Three of the youth clambered up a mountain side and I figured if they could
do it, I could do it. They were 13 and 15 years old, I was 44 and not in
good shape.
Not thinking more about it, I charged up the mountain. Half way up I got
tired and sat down, and looked down.
Fear froze me to the ground. It looked to me like I was on a 90 degree
incline and all I could see was water far, far away. The boats below were
the size of ants. I knew if I stood up to go back down I would topple over
and go tumbling into the ocean, first hitting the rockyledges of the cliffs
below. Never in my entire adult life have I been so totally frozen with fear
that I could not move, could not talk,
The kids saw me and asked me if I was all right. They offered to help me
down. I said no, don't touch me, I was really panicked! I did not want
the kids to die with me.! I knew if they touched me I would fall and drag
them with me.
I could not believe that they galloped along so blithely. I told my self
it was because they were lower to the ground, and I am tall. Time seemed
frozen as well, I have no idea how long I stayed in that one spot. I told
the kids to go on and I would eventually get down. Finally my mind turned
to God, before then it was blank. I said, lord, may your heavenly angels
help me down, and if not, and if it be your will that I die, then I die. I
cannot stay up here forever, and I don't want anyone getting hurt because of
my own foolishness. At this time I was thinking of the three who were
thrown into the fiery furnace, saying to the king, what ever the lord
wills, we will follow. After talking to God, praying, I began to inch my way
back down, like a spider, walking backwards and on all fours. Shouts of
hooray and clapping hands met me at the bottom, my legs were rubber and I
had to sit down for a while. I'll never forget Gods saving grace, knowing
that He was there gave me the courage to start back down.
The second time in the Azores, I was traveling along a narrow wet brick
highway with a car full of kids, the norm for me over there. We were all
singing songs enjoying the companionship of each other.
Topping a hill going about 30 miles an hour I saw a stopped vehicle on one
side and one coming the opposite direction.
The road is only wide enough for one car!!! People were standing in back of
the stopped car, and a police motorcycle was next to it as well. Surprised,
shocked, panicked, I slammed on the breaks, which made my car slide in the
direction of the stopped car and all the people standing in front of the
car. They just stood and stared, no one moved. One of the kids noticed
what was happening and started screaming, I started praying. My car kept
sliding sideways and I knew it was going to hit the brick wall. It finally
came to a very soft stop (it felt like it had hit a rubber wall,) less then
a hair away from the wall, and less then a foot away from the spectators.
We all gave thanks to the lord for protecting us and the others.

The not so dramatic power of Gods words, have been in the subtle difference
in the way I am beginning to see things.
Being an atheist before I became a Christian I had followed the path of the
world. But it was empty.
There was no hope and I could not continue to live a life where there was no
hope.
Because of a friend in night classes, I began to look at the bible with her,
which I always considered mythology before and still did, until it was
proven beyond a doubt to me that it is not mythology.
After accepting that there was a God, and there was a man who lived called
Jesus, and that He was the Son of God,
I knew I wanted to be a part of that and I wanted Him in my life. As I
accepted Him into my life, and began to attend church and keep the Sabbath,
I kept wondering if I was really any different then what I was before. I
wondered if I would see miracles in my life.
It did not take long for me to become aware of a miracle. I had a huge
conflict with my new boss. He told me he did not go in for this goody two
shoes stuff and that I better pull my weight around the office and not hide
behind religious doors. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I was
very upset. I had to go to work every day knowing that my boss did not
like me. The only reason he did not like me was because some one had told
him I was a christian and kept the sabbath holy. For some people that is no
big deal, but for me, I can not do my best work when I am distracted by
trying to please a boss who doesn't think much of my work. I had to pray
daily about this, I asked God to change that man!!!
Or, to get me to a new job. Neither happened! I stayed in the same job
with the same man. 2 months passed slowly, torturingly,with me hating to go
to work every day. After more reading about other Christian lives and
research into the word of God, I asked God to CHANGE ME! I asked God, to
give me a love and caring for this man, that I knew I did not have. And the
very next day when I went to work, I had no fear, no tremors. I genuinely
like the man. I marveled and wondered at this new feeling inside me.!
Because I liked him, I began to find ways to show him that I liked him. I
met his wife, visited with his wife and shared some of my personal life with
his very nice wife. Found out we three had lots in common!!! I still did
my normal job, I still had the same boss, but all my animosity was gone. We
three, his wife, he and I developed a very fond and lasting friendship and
we still share each others lives today!!! 10 years later!!!
Since then, I have had to ask God, to change my heart a few more times for
other people in my life and it always works!!!!
I have moved 5 times in 10 years and each time the lord provides me with
the friendships that bless my life and the necessary other logistical things
needed to make these moves. I still look to His word for courage, guidance,
compassion, wisdom, and forgiveness;and more. I am alive today because He
Lives!
Before becoming a Christian, the song that played in my head over and over,
was, "Send in the clowns, is that all there is?"
I was almost 40 years old when I accepted Christ into my life. I thought of
Moses, when I was baptized and how he spent 40 years in the desert. I was
and am happy and greatful that I continue to find Gods presence in my life
uplifting, rewarding and life changing. I am continually amazed at his
steadfastness, the anchor, to which I hold.
at His continued willingness to forgive, and love. What a powerful God I
serve! May He come soon!!!