God gives strength for every step. By Heidi Kohl

It was a moving moment when ten young people and one adult stepped into the water on July 14, 2022 to seal their covenant with Jesus. This day will not be forgotten by many. Many powerful testimonies showed the impact of genuine Adventist education. Many of the young people came from home school families or attended Adventist schools whose educational principles were consistent with those of their parents. The young people were firm in the teachings of the Bible, were able to harmoniously develop their faith in God and also expressed this in their personal testimonies. They testified of their love for Jesus, whom they had known from a young age and with whom they now wanted to live. Their hearts were spared from the filth of sin and the world. Everyone who was baptized said they only wanted to live one life with Jesus. Many a tear shed that day, the testimonies of the young people were so moving. Among these 10 young people was my granddaughter Hanna.

The baptism took place in the middle of nature, near Mariazell, on the property of the Mikan family. For this occasion, a separate baptismal font was dug in painstaking work, which became a beautiful, small natural pond. Preachers from Bogenhofen and the Czech Republic and two fathers and elders carried out the baptisms. There were about 200 people present. Relatives, siblings and friends had traveled from near and far. There was a lot of singing, music and the word of God proclaimed. There was hardly a dry eye, because these were moving moments and it seemed as if heaven had come down to earth.

Training to become a health missionary

But now let's look back at May: At the end of May, the second online training course to become a health missionary began. I would never have dreamed that something like this would be possible. The year before, when I started the online health education, there were initially four people who wanted to start the training at the end of May. Then 12 people actually started, and two weeks later there were already 20 participants. In the fall we had to start a new course because so many applications came in. Word had spread like wildfire; a veritable boom had set in. For many people it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to complete this valuable training, since they only had to travel to another location for two weeks of practice. The corona crisis has also produced good things. Many longed to learn more about health and developed a new awareness of the health mission. The online course started this year with 40 participants; we couldn't take more. We even had to put 10 people off until next year, for which we already have 20 registrations.
May the Lord continue to bless this training and give me the health and strength to do so. The 4 practical weeks in autumn that we wanted to carry out at SeedOfTruth in the Czech Republic were to be a big challenge.

health work

God gave other wonderful experiences: In May we wanted to hold a health expo at the Spar in Weyer, in which many brothers and sisters and young people from our church should work together, but also experienced brothers and sisters from other churches. By God's grace this Expo could be held and the Lord gave us nice weather. Many people from the area came to have their health tested. As a follow-up event, there were health lectures and a cooking class.

Neighborhood help

My neighbor suffered from extreme pain as a result of the corona vaccination. I gave her my health book for Christmas, which she literally devoured. She changed her diet and started walking for an hour every day and drinking enough water. She was pain free in no time. She calls me a life saver and trumpets it everywhere.

Big changes

Shortly before school started, my family received a message from the authorities that my grandchildren Hanna (13) and Rahel (10) had to go to public school because the community school they had been attending had missed the registration deadline. Now good advice was expensive. Everyone had already adjusted to public school. They absolutely wanted to stay in St. Gallen, not least because they didn't want to leave me alone. Now I put my foot down: "No one has to take me into consideration, the children have priority," was my clear statement. I also testified that 90% of believing children who go to public school drop out of the church. Since Bogenhofen was the only alternative as a private school with public rights, my children had to look for an apartment and move there, just two days before school started and I was leaving for the Czech Republic for the practical weeks. These have been very exciting and challenging days of prayer and seeking solutions.

Practical weeks in the Czech Republic

I was to leave my place of residence, my family and my garden for four weeks now. That meant a big challenge for me and my health. I took these steps by faith, trusting my Savior. Just preparing and packing all the utensils for class was a huge job. I put all my time into it, listing everything and practicing tight time management. Then I had to start the two-hour drive to Graz to get all the important utensils for making ointments and soap. I also planned to print all the God's Plan booklets myself. It took me two days to do this. The Lord gave it that I could stay with siblings. It took me several hours to pack the car, nothing was to be forgotten. I kept praying for strength and wisdom to do this.

Then on September 11th we went to the Czech Republic. Four groups had to be trained and a wide variety of people traveled from all parts of Germany and Austria. It has been a challenging few weeks, but a joy known only to those who fully trust and follow Christ. I experienced an enrichment for my life that I would not want to miss. The many testimonies, lectures and devotions of the participants alone amazed me. I'm so thankful that I had time to talk too. A number of sufferers were among the participants whom we were able to help with natural remedies. So we put on base stockings as well as some wraps and compresses and carried out water treatments and massages. These weeks have been richly blessed. Bea and Sandra seduced everyone with their healthy delicacies for the eyes and the palate. Patrick mentored the male participants and taught them massage and water treatments.

God intervenes

Now the four weeks are behind me and unfortunately ended with a breakdown because I overworked myself unpacking the things at home. My heart rhythm went off the rails once again and I prayed and pleaded with the Lord for help. I took powdered barleygrass juice, did my emergency program, prayed, and waited. The Lord answered my prayer immediately and the heart rhythm returned to normal within 15 minutes. Otherwise I often lay at home in this state for many hours or had to go to the intensive care unit. So now I really take it easy and have to learn to leave all my work behind in order to recover. God is so good and forces us to pause if we don't listen to him and our bodies.

A wonderful assignment

Finally, I would like to tell you about a sister who successfully completed her training as a health missionary in April. She is already giving talks in her church and the participants are showing great interest in the God's Plan booklets. Yes, so I can continue to serve in the work of God and contribute to the glorification of Christ in missionary health work. He deserves all credit because he wants to be our doctor, save lives from death, bless and heal the sick, and draw attention to his near coming. He gave this task to us, his successors. Thank god for that!

With love Maranatha greetings and God's blessings,
Your Heidi

Continuation: Steady progress in the service of God: Get healthy, stay healthy

Back to Part 1: Working as a refugee helper: In Austria at the front

Circular letter no. 92 from October 13, 2022, HOFFNUNGSFULL LEBEN, herbs and cooking workshop – health school, 8933 St. Gallen, Steinberg 54, mobile: +43 (0)664 3944733, heidi.kohl@gmx.at, www.hoffnungsvoll-leben.at