Testimonies Debra

*Testimonies*

Salvation Testimonies Healing Testimonies Others	Surrounded by Love - By Debra Bosacki A few years after my parents emigrated from Europe my sister Cindy and I were born. My childhood was filled with love and security until I was 12 years old; then my world fell apart. My mother, who was everything to me, was diagnosed with cancer. I was in denial and pretended that she would never die. You see I was so close to her that I could not even think about the possibility of losing her. In my fear of losing her, I found myself running from her, running from the pain, from the inevitable. When she died I continued to run from the pain. I struggled through my teen years, numb, just getting by in school, searching for her love. I got mixed up with the wrong crowd, and started drinking socially and occasionally smoked marijuana. All I wanted to do was just get through life. My father, who didn’t know the Lord, was somehow able to walk in unconditional love. No matter what I did he continually threw his arms around me and told me how much he loved me. I knew that he loved me so much that he would literally give his life for me. I was blessed beyond measure to know so much unconditional love at such an early age. But this love that I knew was soon to pass, for when I turned 18 my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He died when I was 19 years old. I married at 19 years old to a wonderful husband. Shortly thereafter my first baby was born. When I was 26 years old, on a Friday afternoon, I went in for a routine physical. When my doctor checked me he said, “You have an ovarian tumor the size of a large lemon. I am going to give you some medication to shrink it and then we will remove it.” I went home scared to death, because my mother died of ovarian cancer. I called my aunt to tell her and she said, “You can’t wait for 2 weeks, you call him back and tell him you want that thing out right away!” So I called him back and he agreed to see me in a few days. That weekend I cried out to a God I did not know, “God please do not let me die,” I sobbed. “I have a little girl, please God.” I went back to my doctor on Monday. Once he checked me, he excused himself and came back with another doctor. Both were dumbfounded as neither could find the tumor. It was gone! I now know that through this experience, God was showing me that He was real and that He was reachable. The love that I had been searching for was now chasing me. Six months passed and my husband came home and said, “There must be more. I have a beautiful wife and beautiful daughter, a nice home, a car and a motorcycle, but there must be more.” I agreed. We were searching but we did not know what we were searching for. But God knew, so he sent a Christian into our path. My brother Emil, who was 20 years older than I, called and asked if we wanted to come over and go out for supper. His son Kevin who was 18 years old was at his house. I had not seen Kevin in years. Kevin was a Christian and had his bible with him. Every question that we asked he answered by looking up a scripture. We then went out to eat at a restaurant. Kevin paid the bill even though he was making little money at the time. Before we ate we held hands and prayed. When we left, he said, “God bless you.” That was foreign to my ears. There was something different about him. As we drove home I said to my husband, “I want what he has.” My husband wanted what Kevin had as well. So we decided to invite him over and told him to bring his bible. He shared many scriptures with us, one of them being John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV After several visits, my husband kneeled on our living room floor and gave his heart to the Lord. It took me a few more days as I struggled with what my friends would think. Kevin took us to his church where we heard the gospel preached once more. When the alter call came, my knee jumped up. I wanted to run up to the altar but no one else was going up there. I was not sure where to go, so I stayed in my seat. But I believe it was that moment, in 1980, that I gave my heart to the Lord. Immediately I sensed a change. I no longer desired alcohol, my language cleaned up; I became a new person and desired to obey God. God has blessed us with 5 children. Over the years I have gone through many trials and have seen God’s hand move in mighty ways. My brother Emil died of bone cancer, but found the Lord through the process. I have been filled with His Spirit. Knowing Christ has added richness to my life beyond belief. I have found the Love that I was searching for.