Life Story of Susan Walduck

My family were Catholic, in the days when the Mass was in Latin and there was no Sunday school for children. I went to a convent high school, but I had never seen a Bible. I knew Jesus died on the cross but I didn’t know he was interested in me personally. I had an authoritarian father, who believed that children should be seen not heard and did not welcome questions about anything. At age 16 when I was allowed to choose whether to go to church, I rejected God completely because I always felt so guilty about everything I did.

After this I fell into a hippie lifestyle because I felt I didn’t fit in anywhere else. I got married at 20 and had a daughter, followed by a son 3 years later. Both my sister in law and mother in law were Christians and I envied them, but I didn’t even know how to believe. After my 3rd child was born 5 years later, I could no longer maintain a marriage to a man who was drunk more than sober, so I became a single parent.
One summer when my children were 14, 11 and 6, there was a US team of young people in the village where we lived and they held all kinds of activities and sports for young people. My children came home with stories about America but also about Jesus.I got to know the leader of the group quite well and we had many conversations about life and faith but none of it really touched me until the last night.

That’s when Karl explained to me why Jesus died and that he did it for me!!!! I could no longer hold out against the truth that I could feel working in me so I asked for forgiveness for my sins and gave my life to Jesus. I was instantly transformed - born again as I found out later. I fell in love with Jesus that night and vowed to always love him and serve him. I have never changed my mind. He is the most faithful, kind and generous person I have ever met.

Sue