Testimony of Mª Teresa Gimbernat ● 2008

My name is Maria Teresa, I was born in Riumors (Girona) in a poor family.  My grandparents and my mother taught me about religion, but I soon became disillusioned by things which I saw and didn't like.  Also I was very bored in the church with so much ritual which seemed like something very cold and impersonal.  At fifteen years of age I gave up religious practices, because I felt that I was a hypocrite when I did them.

At nineteen years of age I want to Barcelona to work with the hope of seeing my dreams as a child fulfilled: make money, travel, have fun and all of that I did; in fact for a long time I thought that I had triumphed in life, but the fact is I felt more and more empty and I realized that all of that was superficial and deceptive.

I was thirty years old when I began to ask myself questions and investigate for myself in order to search for the "truth", the reason for my existence, although I should specify that I did not search for God because I didn't believe in His existence.

Two years later, during a Holy Week, my beautician, who was a believer, invited me to an outing of youth from all over Spain in Guadalajara, a retreat which Decision organized in Peña de Horeb.  I accepted with the intention of meeting different people, out of curiosity.  From the first day I was impacted by their lives, their behavior and the joy and peace which they transmitted; I sincerely thought that they had found that which I had been searching for.  Some of them told me how Jesus had changed their lives and about the relationship which they had with God, a relationship which they said was intimate and personal.  This was all Greek to me, since I didn't see God!

The Saturday of that weekend one of the Decision staff requested five minutes to talk to me, I accepted and he talked to me about God's love, he asked me if I considered myself a sinner, I had never asked myself something like that, since I lived my life and didn't desire evil on anyone, but nothing more.

Suddenly it happened that I saw all of my past, I saw myself as dirty and a sinner before a pure and holy God; and I didn't see a way out of this situation.  But then this friend talked to me about this God who in His love humbled Himself, became man and took upon Himself all of my sins and died on a cross in my place.  At this very moment I understood that only something so great could save me, so I accepted this message and opened my heart to Jesus and invited Him to enter in my life.

In this way I found the "truth" which I was looking for, I bear witness that something great happened in my life.  The following week things changed: my feelings, my likes, my manner of talking, since before I used to say lots of swearwords.  Such was the change which I underwent, that even my co-workers, my neighbors and everyone who knew me noted it and asked me what had happened to me.  I only knew that I had an indescribable peace and joy, which made me cry tears of happiness.

Since I had never read the Bible I didn't know what was the new life which comes from God, but then I understood it, everything which I was living happened due to the love which God had for me and I knew that Jesus Christ really lives and I was experiencing it personally.

From this time 26 years have passed and I could fill a book with marvelous experiences lived with Him.  The purpose of this testimony is to tell you that your life is very valuable to God, Jesus loves you and wants to give you life and life abundantly.

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

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