I want to share a true story with you...
They called her Lahadi (La-ha-dee), which means "Sunday" in Hausa, because she was born on a Sunday. Her mother's labor on the day of her birth was quick, and was accomplished in between the sale of some fried bean cakes. When her labor pains began, she left her work briefly and gave birth to a daughter! Because of this, Lahadi was fondly called "a business lady" or "daughter of the market".
When Lahadi was 7, her mother and father separated. She never knew why. Her mother left, taking Lahadi and her younger sister with her. Her older siblings remained with their father. Lahadi's mother moved in with Lahadi's grandfather's family, and made a living cooking and selling her fried food.
One day, when she was 13 years old, Lahadi arrived home from school to hear that a life-changing decision had been made on her behalf. She was to be married. A Muslim man, an acquaintance of her mother's, had asked for Lahadi's hand in marriage. Lahadi became this man's wife within three months.
During the first 5 years of marriage, Lahadi remembers watching "The Donut Man," a Christian children's program, on television. She remembers crying whenever she watched the show, and not knowing why. There was a hunger for something more within her spirit, a hunger that was crying out to be satisfied. One day, Lahadi had a vision. In the vision, a huge black figure approached her. She was terrified, and cried out for help, "Mohammad! Mohammad!" . Help did not come, and she remained terrified. Then, a figure in white appeared by her side, reached down, and took her hand. She then awoke from the vision.
Lahadi's spirit was troubled. What did this mean? She asked a Malam (an Islamic spiritual leader) what it could mean. He told her she must be doing something wrong, and that she needed to search her heart and find out what it was. She tried to search her heart for whatever it was that needed to change. She didn't know what to do!
One of Lahadi's older sisters was a Christian. Lahadi told her sister about the dream and asked what it could possibly mean. Her sister said, "It means that even though you are sitting in darkness, God is coming to your side to aide you. Remember that Christ loves you!"
After 5 years of marriage, and several miscarriages, Lahadi was finally able to carry a baby to full-term. She was 18 years old when she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Fati, after her mother. Out of respect for her mother, she called the baby, Umie, which means "Mommy" in Hausa.
Lahadi's marriage ended unexpectedly when her husband decided to marry another young woman. Because of the circumstances surrounding the marriage, he gave Lahadi a choice - he would allow her to leave their marraiage with his blessing. Lahadi chose to leave, but these days were discouraging and difficult for her.
Lahadi's older sister, the one who had encouraged her, "Remember that Christ loves you," invited her to church, and she began to attend secretly. She would veil herself as a means of disguise as she traveled to church, then remove the veil when she arrived. After going for some time, she made the decision to give her life to Jesus Christ.
Lahadi's mother was angry about her decision to follow Jesus and rejected her completely. She sent for someone to steal Umie away and give her to her father, Lahadi's former-husband. She hoped this would force Lahadi to return to Islam and reject her Christian faith. Umie was about 18 months old at the time. She was playing outside while Lahadi worked in the house. The man came and took Umie without warning. Lahadi begged and pleaded to have the child back, but her former-husband would not hear of it. In this culture, the children belong to the father, not to the mother. The mother has no rights.
To add to her sorrow, Lahadi's mother continued to persecute her relentlessly for her faith in Jesus. She hired men to beat her, trying to force her to renounce the name of Jesus. Lahadi refused. She continued to grow in the conviction of her faith. Eventually, Lahadi fled the country of her birth, Nigeria. She took shelter in neighboring Niger, where she enrolled in Bible School.
It was there that she met a Christian man, Musa, whom she married on October 27, 2000. Joyfully, they welcomed two beautiful children into their lives. The firstborn was a boy - handsome, sweet, and thoughtful. Their second-born was a beautiful, vivacious daughter. After 7 years of marriage, Lahadi was left a widow when her husband, Musa, was suddenly killed in a motorcycle accident.
Here, our story comes full circle... Our Lahadi was called Lahadi because she was born on a Sunday, but her real given name was Rebecca. She is Rebecca, my friend, and Vie Abondante's interpreter and worship leader. Her son is Jonathan, who recently, just two years after his Daddy, went to be with Jesus. Her little daughter, Amy, one of Isaiah's best friends.
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Since I shared Rebecca's story with you in
Grieving with Joy, I have had many people ask me how she is doing. Rebecca has shared her story with me, and it is with her permission that I am sharing it with you. She blesses me daily as she radiates peace, joy, and strength that can only come from Jesus. She clings to Him, because she has no other. She knows the truth of Peter's words,
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life." Rebecca wants this story to be a blessing to you, and to encourage you to trust Him, no matter what you are facing.
.The Lord has continued to unravel and reveal more of Rebecca's story. We would like to share what He has done, and is still doing, over the past 2 months with you.
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During the week of grieving for her son, Jonathan, Rebecca received a phone call from her former-husband. He, knowing nothing about her current situation or Jonathan's death, was calling in regards to Umie, the daughter who, years ago, had been lost to Rebecca. Umie was only 18 months old when she was taken away - she is now 12 years old. Umie's father asked Rebecca if she would be willing to take Umie. He now had two wives, neither of whom loved Umie or treated her with kindness. He hoped Rebecca could take her for her own safety and well being.
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In the time of one of her greatest losses, God gave Rebecca one of her greatest treasures back.
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A few weeks ago, Rebecca brought Umie home with her, and Umie is now part of our family. When Rebecca called me to tell me that Umie was now in her care, I said, "Rebecca, do you see? The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, and TODAY, He has given."
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"Yes!" she replied, voice choked with tears, yet breaking with a smile, "TODAY, He has given BACK!"
Please pray that God continues to strengthen and comfort Rebecca, Amy, and Umie. They are all facing new circumstances. Umie is experiencing an environment that is saturated with the love of Jesus for the first time in her life. She is blossoming. Since she came, she has begun learning to read and write. She has no church background, so please pray for her salvation. We cannot help but see the Lord's hand working in all of this to save Umie! The Lord is rescuing her, and we are excited to see the His plans beginning to unfold in her life!
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The Lord is in the business of giving beauty for ashes. . Do you have a pile of ashes somewhere in your life? Things that have burned you? Things that have been painful? Are you still waiting for the beauty? We might never see the fullness of it on this side of eternity, but it is coming!
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I have one more note to add. When Rebecca's mother, the one who had persecuted her for her faith in Jesus, was on her deathbed, Rebecca returned to her to care for her during her last days. The child that she had persecuted the most, returned to her. As a result of the love and forgiveness that she saw in Rebecca's life, Rebecca's mother gave her life to Jesus just before she died.
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What is the most difficult situation that you are facing now? Give it to the Lord. Trust Him. Worship Him through the storm. Wait on Him. He will turn your mourning into dancing. He will give you beauty for ashes. He will use you for His glory.
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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners...
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, for the display of His splendor.
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Isaiah 61:1-3
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