Trudi Knelsen of Alymer, Ontario shares how she came to accept the Lord’s gift of personal salvation several years ago.

When I look back upon my life and see the person that I have become, I can truly say that I am here today only through God’s grace. I have seven brothers, one sister and wonderful parents. My parents made the decision to come to Canada for a short visit in 1990 and we are still here today. For the first 11 seasons we all picked cucumbers, which brought us as a family much closer together.

When I finished high school I wanted to attend a college, but it wasn’t an option for me. So I became an employee at a metal fabricator, doing “factory work.” I was on the afternoon shift. Initially I found it really hard to work during the day and early evening with little time to be with family and friends. Soon I made work my priority and after a short while I was going out after work with my co-workers, doing all the things they wanted to do.

I can say I was living two completely different lives. My work environment was rubbing off on me: I became short tempered, used foul language, and I was very dishonest with my family because I didn’t want them to think less of me. Drugs were about the only thing I didn’t get involved in.

Before I would close my eyes at bedtime I would say a short prayer that mom and dad taught us as kids, but I didn’t know what the words meant. Sometimes I tossed and turned for a long time because I was so uneasy about the things that happened during the day.

At work one day I had to make a road trip. A fellow employee and I decided to race our cars, and he ran into me going 120km. His car was a write-off; my car was all out of control too, but I walked away without a scratch. That really spoke to me because I knew God could have ended my life, but He gave me another chance. Since then I looked at life differently, but still I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere, and had no one to turn to. Deep down I knew what I needed, but I didn’t know where to start.

I didn’t have the courage and strength to say “no” to my friends at work, and from then on I found myself in situations I can’t even begin to explain.

But then, near the end of 2003, some drastic changes were made at work. I was asked to work at a different location, which turned out to be the same plant and even the same shift, that my sister Sue worked! I was excited about that but didn’t know what to expect. It was like starting a new job. Sue picked me up in the morning, we sometimes worked in the same area, we had lunch together and she dropped me off at the end of the day. It was great, and I sensed this all happened for a reason.

One Sunday morning I woke up early to tell Dad I wanted to go to church, but I was scared to because he didn’t approve of me going there. The last thing I wanted was to hurt my parents. In Acts 5:29b it says, “We must obey God rather than men” (NIV). I was aware of that; I knew that God was supposed to be number one in my life, but I didn’t know how I could ever love someone I had never seen before, more than I loved my family. Yet I was ready to make the decision to change the way I lived. I had to, I was tired of liv ing the way I was.

Going to church became part of my weekly routine, I felt li ke I belonged. I looked forward to g oing to Bible study and youth choir. I wanted to become a better person and I needed more in life. I was tired of going to sleep scared knowing I’d be lost if something were to happen to me. I wanted change but I knew if I were to start it wasn’t just for now, it would be a 100% change.

On March 14, 2004, Pastor Elke was invited to hold special services here in Aylmer. It was then that I dedicated my life to the Lord. I’ll never forget it. I had so many friends and family there to support me. And while things aren’t always uncomplicated, it’s incredible how much easier every day life has become. I can hardly find words to describe what God has done for me. I often pray that I will never take for granted what He has done in my life and all He’s still doing. He has helped me in every aspect of life. He has given me the desire to read His Word. I have also been blessed with a wonderful husband who loves me the way I am.

Often we wonder if miracles still exist, they do. I can testify to that.