How overcoming obstacles gives wings to further horizons. From Heidi Kohl

Reading time: 8 minutes

“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness, to hold you by the hand, to keep you, and to make you a covenant for the people, a light to the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring the prisoners out of prison. and they that sit in the darkness, out of the dungeon." (Isaiah 42,6:7-XNUMX)

Monster work digitization

Three months ago I retreated to my "chamber" to digitize my 64 God's Plan booklets, partially renew them, correct them and get them ready for printing. A true monster of work! Every day was precisely divided and structured and I hoped to be finished by the beginning of March. Since I got so fit over time and therefore faster and faster, I actually finished earlier, on January 30th, over a month earlier. This day was a special day for me because I was able to start printing straight away.

Printing shop in the living room

At the beginning of December a company visited me and installed a small printer. However, he couldn't manage the envelopes. So the experts had to leave without having achieved anything. So another obstacle. But at the beginning of January they came with a large printer and programmed it so that I could send the job to the printer via an Internet cable from my computer. It was all very exciting for me, but I went to work in good spirits. I had everything explained to me in detail and we did a test print. Everything worked wonderfully.

However, the larger printer was significantly more expensive and where should I put it? My son stepped in and allowed the printer to be set up in his living room. This made it possible to tackle the matter at all. My idea was also to use the printer for invitations to seminars. I have to travel a long way from St. Gallen (Styria) to get to a printing shop, so I thought I could do this printing work from home. For a long time I had been praying for direction as to what type of work I should begin in St. Gallen. I was greatly encouraged by my siblings who paid for the expensive printer and added an additional sum for the work in St. Gallen. (printing, hall rental, direct mail). I was amazed at how God, through brothers and sisters and people, motivates us to move forward.

God sends helpers

One of my prayers was that I couldn't do this work alone and that God would give me someone to help me. However, a place to live for this helper was also necessary. So I continued to pray and received confirmation from Bethesda Ministry that Jerome and Bea's husband Dave would come in February to build me a small room in my dry, newly built basement where there is a window. My son started putting up the first pillars at the beginning of January. But since he is almost never in St. Gallen, this undertaking would probably have taken half a year. So the two men came from the Czech Republic to continue construction. I also had no idea how much it would cost. But thanks to the generous donation of a brother, this project was also made possible. Jerome's mother, who is currently still in Crete, will come to me for a while to support me in my work.

On the rise: request for a lecture hall

I was incredibly strengthened and encouraged by the brothers who were with me for a week, the shared prayers, the devotions and the heavenly atmosphere. I haven't felt such happiness combined with a zest for action in years. It was the LORD who blessed this work and encouraged me. So I felt a strong urge to go to the mayor and ask for a lecture hall. Surprisingly, there were exactly two dates left for this spring. I was really overwhelmed. Then I went to the post office to inquire about the price and processing for a direct mail item. Here too the answer was satisfactory and I realized that I could now begin this work. I immediately created invitations and in just two hours the invitations were ready. Now all you have to do is print them, bundle them and take them to the post office. The first date for a health lecture is on March 6th and the second on April 28th. I am very grateful for prayer because St. Gallen, Austria, is a small place; and getting people to come to a lecture is no small feat. But with God all things are possible for him who believes. “For not by army or power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts in Zechariah 4,6:30, this work will be done. So I move forward with faith that everything is possible with God and pray that this will be a beautiful beginning of the work for my Lord Jesus. Because I have planned to hold a herb day in our house in St. Gallen on May XNUMXth. I would like to invite neighbors, the builders, siblings and friends. There should also be siblings who will perform pieces of music. For me it is one of the opportunities to get to know the people here better and build trust.

So I can once again marvel at what a wonderful God we have! He deserves all praise and thanks! May this work bring great blessings. Through the collaboration of many hardworking hands this work can be done. I hope many more will be encouraged to move forward.

In any case, many of my students are already active in the LORD's vineyard. A couple works in the TGM, a couple is planning a film project and is in the starting blocks, others are working on health expositions, some are already giving lectures and sermons, and then there are herbal hikes, cooking courses and personal consultations. The LORD has also sent employees to the Bethesda Ministry, who are now also starting school. From March to April there will be three practical weeks again and it's important to be fit for this big challenge. Let's thank God that Dave and Bea are ready to lead the ministry.

But what would all of this be if we didn't have craftsmen who would expand the premises and lend a hand diligently! And God guides and blesses our actions. He deserves all the glory!

Spiritual food will also be provided during the practical weeks. Lay people have agreed to give sermons on the Sabbaths. (Johannes Kolletzki, Stan Sedelbauer, Sebastian Naumann)

The power of intercession

Since November we have been praying for a woman who is a heavy smoker to be free from smoking. She lives in southern Styria and I always meet her when I'm there. She is also very open and I can read the Bible and pray with her. My church also prayed for her. Now she called me in January beaming with joy that she had already been free of cigarettes for 10 days. God did a miracle because she smoked for 40 years and not a little. She was a chain smoker, so to speak. Praise the LORD! I now continue to pray that she may remain free. I'll meet her again in March.

Warm Maranatha greetings, our Lord is coming soon, get ready to meet him.

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

Newsletter No. 96 from February 2024, LIVING HOPEFULLY, herbal and cooking workshop, health school, 8933 St. Gallen, Steinberg 54, heidi.kohl@gmx.at , hoffnungsvoll-leben.at, Mobile: +43 664 3944733