Jucerlandia, the pastor’s wife at Templo, the first church we started in Porto Velho, called me last night.   Jayme led her to the Lord when she was 11 years old.  She and her husband have been faithful soul winners all these years.

Wilma used to be the church’s neighbor.  Although Wilma never accepted the Lord during our ministry at Templo, she was always a friend to the church, watching out for it at night when no one was around.

She and her husband owned and operated a jewelry store and were considered upper middle class folks.  They bought land to build their “dream home” a few blocks away. The house was finished and they had moved into it.  All they lacked was to bring their Doberman pinchers to the new houses, which were guarding their old property.  The night before they were to move the dogs over, some bandits broke in and beat Abreu, her husband to death, afflicting some terrible blows on her and her son as well.  That was bad enough, but Satan wasn’t finished with his evil work.

Wilma’s sister-in-law, Maria had her arrested for Abreu’s death, saying that she hired the killers to do it.  We all knew that was a lie, because Abreu had a bad heart, and several times Wilma ran out in the night to find a Taxi to rush him to the hospital.  If she was planning on having him killed, she would have left him to die on his own.

But Maria had money to make the accusation take, and Wilma was convicted to prison for 10 years.  After 7 years she was able to go home, but was under “house arrest” and very guarded.  In prison she received the Lord as her Savior and was a testimony to many women with whom she shared the cell.  She testifies that was the turning point in her life, in spite of the suffering she went through and deprived of raising her 3 children.  The first year she nearly lost her mind with worry, but friends and relatives assured her that they were helping with things at her home.

Now, 20 years have passed, and she was summoned to the home of Maria, who is terminally ill with cancer.  Her conscience was bothering her so she sent for Wilma.  Wilma has been a faithful member of Templo since she was released from “house arrest,” and asked if she could bring her pastor and his wife with her for the visit.  The woman said she was not interested in giving up her religion, but they could come, too.

They did, and Wilma told her that she forgave her a long time ago.  But she wanted her to hear about the One who could forgive her and give her eternal life.  As she listened to the Greatest Love Story ever told, Maria started crying and asked that she be shown how she could receive Jesus.  Jucy and her husband gladly prayed the sinner’s prayer with her, and she received Christ as her Savior!  We are so thrilled that a wrong was made right, and that Wilma holds no hatred for the one who caused her much pain.

Nancy Mantonya, Brazil