ChangeUP Tonic

Gbenga OwotokiThursday, June 4, 2015
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Florida, USA

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TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANCEMENT

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dversity is one of the tools God can use to turn around your life if you do not give up. Examples abound in the bible of how men and women have turned adverse situation into advancement. I would like to share with you this heart touching story of a woman who withered the storm and now is a great blessing to many.

On the fateful morning that was to be her wedding day, Terry spent the night at her parents' home in Buru Buru. She woke up to escort a friend to the bus stop. The friend was taking some outfits to Terrys' fianc� Harry It was about 6am. As she came from the bus stop, her mind was on the exciting day ahead and she did not give much thought to a car that was ahead of her; Terry remembers. Some four men stood beside the car and they appeared to be repairing it. As she walked past them, they grabbed her and threw her inside the car. Then they gang raped her as they drove off. When she tried to defend herself, one of the men cut her with a knife deep into her stomach. Then the men threw her out of the moving car. Terry hit the ground and passed out.

The police thought she was dead and they were taking her to the City Mortuary when she coughed. Shocked, they rushed her to Kenyatta National Hospital. The wedding was called off amid much confusion and pain. After discharge she was fearful the guys would come back to finish her off; she felt embarrassed, ashamed, bitter and naked. Terry was put through post exposure prophylaxes, the therapy given to people who have undergone rape to prevent transmission of HIV. She turned negative but there was another painful diagnosis; the knife had perforated her uterus and the verdict was that she would never bear children. Regardless, Harry and Terry exchanged their vows in a second wedding paid for by well-wishers in July 2005. Later, they went for a beautiful honeymoon in Mombasa for three weeks. Terry recollects the few married days as blissful until a cold Saturday, 29 days into marriage. The couple had been fasting and praying and that evening, while preparing dinner, they basked in the heat of a jiko. Terry remembers that Harry looked solemn.

Harry switched off the gas cooker and said we needed to talk. He said: If I die today, I don't know how you would survive" Terry remembers. After dinner the two of them went to bed only for both of them to be overwhelmed by a strange phenomenon. Terry woke up to find that Harry had passed out. She called for help and Harry was rushed to the hospital only for her to learn he had passed on. This was too much for Terry to take and she went into shock. Again, tongues wagged about the circumstances of Harry's death and only a post mortem would clear the air. The results showed that he had choked on food as carbon monoxide inhaled from the jiko had blocked his trachea.

`Terry was devastated. People said the wrong things thinking they were comforting her. Some felt she was under an evil spell otherwise how could she explain the tragedies that have befallen her in rapid succession. Some men pounced, telling her that she needed to move on, with them. But Tony was very instrumental in her recovery and keeping faith with God, two years later they were married. Terry and Tony had broken all emotional and mythical barriers to exchange vows in a giraffe-themed wedding; like the tall animal, they could see light far off in the tunnel. Imagine the joy when a year later Terry fell pregnant. They have a beautiful daughter, Tehille, Hebrew for praise. During the miracle pregnancy, she went through a lot of pain and doctors advised she abort the baby. One said that if she was lucky to carry the pregnancy to term, the child would be born deformed as she was on strong medication. But she shut off this advice and Tehille was born healthy. Terry's tribulations during pregnancy inspired her to start a ministry which advises expectant mothers on pregnancy and childbirth. Terry, also a motivational speaker, today shares her testimony openly. "A lot of people's lives have been changed as a result

Wow! What a life. She went through the valley of the shadow of death and God created a 'tunnel' for her escape. Maybe, you are reading this today and you have gone through terrible situations in your life that you sometimes wish you could just drop dead to escape the shame and pain. Dear friend, it's because of you I am writing this today. DON'T GIVE UP! You are next in line for a miracle. God will make out of you a glorious spectacle for the world to see. That mess will not mess you up. God is sending you with a message through your mess to a messed age. That adversity will not end in ugly adventure for you but God will turn it around for your divine advancement. Don't let your problems and challenges leave you bitter rather let them make you better and with God, you shall whither the storm. It is well with you even if you are in the well. God bless you big. Gbenga Owotoki, is the founder and Presiding Coordinator Hephzibah Network International Ministries; a Ministry committed to stirring up the 'sleeping giant' in people for end-time exploits. A US trained Business and Change Management Strategist. He is widely known as the 'Change Driver' for his simple but yet unique ways through which he initiates changes that are rejuvenating lives and organizations and helping to restore hope in individuals who had completely given up. A widely travelled international conference speaker and Convener of the annual Giant Conference and Life Summit that have been a blessing to many.

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