about maggie.......

Maggie Chisha is 23 years old. She was born a three days trip from the city in Zambia. She calls it the bush bush. She grew up there until she was 16. Living off of the land and walking 4 hours each day to fetch her very needed water carrying it back on her head. She had never seen so much as a light bulb let alone an airplane, car, house, anything having to do with modern technology, white people, exc... She lived in a mud hut cooking for herself everyday, making fire by hand. In her culture women dont go to school, therefore she never learned to read or write. She was happy. Her mother lived in the city and never had contact with her family, she worked at the hospital. While working at the hospital she met a Dutch man and fell in love. She then moved to the Netherlands. Wanting better for her family she went back to the bush bush to get her family. Maggies little brother and little sister were taken first, they tried to take maggie but her father didnt want her to go. They had to come back another time and forcilbly take Maggie. She was taken to the airport in the city. Having never seen anything like it before she was very scared. While getting on the plane she was startled by the engine and ended up running all the way to the electric fence to meet a new shocking feeling. They had to tranqualize her to get her on the plane. Maggie came into the Netherlands in the freezing cold winter. Everything was new and different, white people everywhere. New things such as lighters, televisions, computers, and houses. She had a hard time adjusting. The first duck she saw she grabbed it broke its neck and took it home to her mother to eat. Her mother then having to explain to her that thats not how we do things here. The years go by and she started to get used to the european lifestyle. Clothing, nightlife, busyness, and bills. One day while in the Center of Groningen two sister missionaries overheard her talking about God. Maggie not knowing these missionaries still gave them her information. The sisters tried contacting her later with not much success. Then the sisters were transfered. They gave her information to us the elders and we gave it a try. Finnally getting contact with her we made an appointment. At the appointment we gave her a book of Mormon, and unfortunately she explained to us that her Father had passed away one week before. The next appointment she was excited about learning more and told us she could not put the book down. Then the next appointment she was even more excited and said that she feels herself changing, she didnt want to do the things she did before, she said she never felt alone anymore. Having already set a baptismal date she was well on her way. She explained that she feels like she is becoming the Maggie she used to be and wants to be. Moving in closer to her baptism she recieved many trials, friends falling away and even turning against her because of the changes she was making. Even down to her own mother telling her that if she were to be baptized she would never speak to her again. But Maggie already having a testimony of Christ and the Book Of Mormon there was no turning back. She was Baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Sep 4. and confirmed the next day. After her confirmation she courageously got up to give her testimony of the things she knows are true, and continued in tears wishing one day her Mother would be sitting next to her with the same testimony of the Book of Mormon. I being a missionary have never felt so much joy then to see someone turn their life to Christ and recieve so much happiness. Im so greatfull for this Gospel and the eternal happiness it brings. The Book of Mormon is true and has the power to bring souls, no matter where you come from or who you are, unto Christ.