South Africa
I have seen a lifetime of God making what seems impossible, possible in my life.
Taking complexities in our 52-year marriage to a love that has lasted and stood the test of time.
The greatest of all God’s miracles and working in our lives, is the healing of our first-born son, Mark, from a debilitating illness.
In September 2022 he began to experience a slight blur to his right eye, coupled with excruciating pain. After rounds of CT and brain scans, hospitalization and multiple visits to a doctrine of doctors, none could give a conclusive or satisfactory explanation for his intense suffering. By December he was completely blind in the right eye, coupled with excruciating pain.
January 2, he collapsed at home from pain this time to his abdomen. He was readmitted. More tests and scans revealed a large mass on his liver. After three biopsies which revealed no cancer cells, it was presumed his prior melanoma diagnoses had returned, and he was referred to oncology. He would require 6 rounds of immunotherapy but there were no guarantees. So began endless rounds of hospital visitations and fewer answers.
My journal entry for 13 January, read: ” Last night was a disaster. My poor boy’s suffering is off the chart. I need 90,000 South African Rand this morning for his first treatment. All I have is Jesus. He is all I need.”
The struggle for his soul was a bitter one. By evening his body was wracked with pain. The maximum medication had been administered without relief. Unable to sit or lie down his emaciated body hung between the support of his brother and father … As he hung there I thought of Jesus … an image etched in my mind forever. I thought of how Jesus hung on the cross in excruciating pain for my boy … his only hope. I’d only just read: “I and the Father are One and We have come to bring salvation to this soul. He was bought at a high price, the precious blood of Christ. Stand back Satan, this soul is mine.” Hope welled up in my heart knowing the Father and the Son had come to draw my boy to salvation. Jesus draws a line in the sand that Satan may not cross, because of what Christ did on the cross – with power and authority He could claim my boy back and bring him to salvation … and He did!!!
By evening, the money had been paid, and the precious, life-giving treatment was on its way. As the sun was setting on the Sabbath, Mark’s best friend and a pastor friend arrived at the hospital to anoint him. Since then, we’ve watched with amazement and gratitude the miracle of God’s saving grace and answer to a mother’s prayer unfold, as Mark gains strength and grows in Grace. There’s nothing too hard for God. All power in heaven and earth has been given Him … united with His Father, they do battle for the souls of men and women. All we need to do is reach out in faith and touch Him.
On the 15th April he recommitted his life to God in baptism.
There’s so much more…God is enough ❤️
Olivia Maritz
South Africa
She was larger than life. People either loved or hated her. Vivacious, energetic, creative, loud, volatile, quick to forgive and forget, and oh, so giving.
As a young girl, Olga Eisner rebelled against her father’s drinking, which was always followed by abuse, and she left home to board elsewhere for high school. She became a teacher even though her heart yearned to be a social worker. She was good with the children, being firm, consistent, and caring. Her classrooms had enchanting nooks where children’s poems were created in art forms. Many were drawn to her lively dance classes, and she orchestrated the best school concerts.
Her first marriage was a rebound, which she said should never have happened, as he was such a kind and gentle man who didn’t deserve that. Having been told she’ll never have children, it was a surprise when she had her only child. As she was a creator of children’s stories that played on the radio, with all the creatures having the most interesting names, of course, she created a name for this creature of hers and named her Emra. She remarried when this little girl was a few months old, leaving her with her father, and reclaimed her three years later. Little Emra fearfully watched her mother’s explosive spirit rise up towards her new sister, the daughter of her stepdad.
It wasn’t long before the bonus dad, Pappie (Afrikaans for Daddy) Dykhorst, got a brain tumor with not long to live. Olga prayed and said “God, if you heal this man, I will search for You till the day I die”. That instant he came out of his coma and was healed. A miracle.
Emra became the witness of seeing God make what seemed impossible, possible. Not just the healing of Pappie, but in the decades that followed, the transformation of Olga’s person. She kept her promise to God, till her early death at age 65. She studied every religion and developed a relationship with God that seemed like breathing, it was so natural. You could see her up in the early hours of the morning, walking and talking with Him in the garden. Her restless nature, arguing with Him, questioning, pondering. Then into The Bible, digging for answers, debating with theologians. “Fanatical”, she was labelled. She didn’t mind – she was all in, had made a promise.
God healed her spirit from its hurts and pain, broke down her pride, tempered her anger, quietened her voice, gave her the gift of poetry and a passionate love for Him. When she unexpectedly left this earth, in 1996, Olga Dykhorst no doubt was worthy of the welcome, “Well done My good and faithful servant”. She pioneered the way for her child to love and live for God, to create for Him – how could Emra not be this, having seen the reality of God so tangibly.
Emra
South Africa
My bonus dad, Pappie was dying. He had a brain tumor, was unconscious, rail-thin and at the end of life. There was no God in our family and yet my Mom prayed. Sitting beside him, she said, “God, if you’re there, I will search for you and follow You till the day I die.”
In that moment, he woke up, and the healing process began. I remember him coming home, unable to walk, learning to move, eat, and work all over again. My mom kept her promise – she lived for and searched about, with and for God, till she passed away in her 60s. I would see her up in the wee hours talking away with God in the garden, her restless soul arguing or laughing – doing real life with Him. I went into life never doubting God existed.
Emra
South Africa
have seen a lifetime of God making what seems impossible, possible in my life.
Taking complexities in our 52-year marriage to a love that has lasted and stood the test of time.
The greatest of all God’s miracles and working in our lives, is the healing of our first-born son, Mark, from a debilitating illness.
In September 2022 he began to experience a slight blur to his right eye, coupled with excruciating pain. After rounds of CT and brain scans, hospitalization and multiple visits to a doctrine of doctors, none could give a conclusive or satisfactory explanation for his intense suffering. By December he was completely blind in the right eye, coupled with excruciating pain.
January 2, he collapsed at home from pain this time to his abdomen. He was readmitted. More tests and scans revealed a large mass on his liver. After three biopsies which revealed no cancer cells, it was presumed his prior melanoma diagnoses had returned, and he was referred to oncology. He would require 6 rounds of immunotherapy but there were no guarantees. So began endless rounds of hospital visitations and fewer answers.
My journal entry for 13 January, read: ” Last night was a disaster. My poor boy’s suffering is off the chart. I need 90,000 South African Rand this morning for his first treatment. All I have is Jesus. He is all I need.”
The struggle for his soul was a bitter one. By evening his body was wracked with pain. The maximum medication had been administered without relief. Unable to sit or lie down his emaciated body hung between the support of his brother and father … As he hung there I thought of Jesus … an image etched in my mind forever. I thought of how Jesus hung on the cross in excruciating pain for my boy … his only hope. I’d only just read: “I and the Father are One and We have come to bring salvation to this soul. He was bought at a high price, the precious blood of Christ. Stand back Satan, this soul is mine.” Hope welled up in my heart knowing the Father and the Son had come to draw my boy to salvation. Jesus draws a line in the sand that Satan may not cross, because of what Christ did on the cross – with power and authority He could claim my boy back and bring him to salvation … and He did!!!
By evening the money was paid and the precious life-giving treatment was on its way. As the sun was setting on the Sabbath, Marks best friend and a pastor friend arrived at the hospital to anoint him. Since then we’ve watched with amazement and gratitude the miracle of God’s saving grace and answer to a mothers prayer unfold, as Mark gains strength and grows in Grace. There’s nothing too hard for God. All power in heaven and earth has been given Him … united with His Father they do battle for the souls of men and woman. All we need to do is reach out in faith and touch Him.
On the 15th April he recommitted his life to God in baptism.
There’s so much more…God is enough ❤️
Olivia Maritz
