My name is Leena Chetty.

 

I was born a Hindu, but I will die a Christian.

 

There was a series of events that happened in my life that led to me making this decision. My story is a bit different from many, especially since I grew up hating and despising Christians. It is also a fairly long story. I have left out many details, but what is here is what I believe I am supposed to write.

 

I was born in a Hindu home, where daily rituals, sacrifices and offerings (food, money and even animals) were the norm. It was what defined my lifestyle as a Hindu. One would make these sacrifices as atonement for sin, as well as to please the gods, in order to escape fierce judgment.

 

When I was 16, I attempted to commit suicide for the first time.

Unlike my mother, my dad and I never believed in evil sprits or demons or even that the spiritual world was real. So, my experiences, which I am about to tell you about led me to being utterly miserable and confused, thus my attempts to take my life, off course, not resulting in the desired effect. I would wake up in the middle of the night screaming, because ‘something’ had been choking me and sitting on my chest. There would be the most unusual noises on the roof, almost as if there was another family living up there. We would hear footsteps, not just on the roof, but in the house as well. Being the rational person I was, I never for once thought these could actually be evil spirits that were sent to torment my family and me. It was a big shock to me, when I learnt that I was not the only one who had been experiencing this. My sister would get out of bed, walk a few steps and then be thrown onto the floor. She said that ‘something’ pushed her so hard. There was nobody there…

 

My dad kept chickens, and the once healthy chickens suddenly died, initially one at a time, and then a large number. Co-incidence, I reasoned, but not until our helper one day told us that a “short-creature” had talked to her, and told her that it was sent to kill us, and that our house was its home and it was not leaving until we were all dead. I had heard stories similar to this, from extended family members and acquaintances. I always shrugged them off, believing it was all made up, and that this was impossible. Every human being, according to my reasoning, was responsible for their own actions, and the things that happened to them.

 

While all of this was happening in our home, which I could no longer call home, because the minute I would step into the house, I would be gripped with fear, and I was constantly looking over my shoulder, as I felt there was something following me, wherever I went. This was one of the many events that led to me thinking I was going crazy, and thus the desire to live no more, because nothing made sense to me anymore. My grades began to drop. I was struggling to concentrate in school, as my mind was plagued with all that was going on, and the fact that I did not have an explanation for this, did not help at all.

 

I lived a life of discipline, especially when it came to prayer and fasting, which I did very regularly. But, it seemed like, the more I fasted and prayed, the worse things got.

 

Out of desperation, in my prayers (Hindus have a holy lamp, and pictures of different deities, as well as man-made figurines that they pray to), I recall once praying, “Allah, Jesus, Moses, Buddha and even if there is a spaceship out there, somebody please make this clear to me and give me some answers.”

 

While all of this was happening at our home, there was a similar situation going on at our neighbor’s house. They, like us were also Hindu. All but one, who was a Christian. But, he was not like the way we know a Christian should be. He was the praise and worship leader in the church on Sunday, and the rest of the week, a drunk. He cheated on his wife, and would beat her and do all the things a Christian ought not to do. A person who does not believe like the Christians do, knows the lifestyle a Christian ought to live.

 

There was a series of ‘strange’ events that took place next-door. This included, rattling in the closets, lights going on and off randomly (without anyone touching the switch) and the same with the television.

 

The series of events that followed a few nights later would challenge everything that I had believed for twenty years.

 

There was a fire that started on a curtain. There was no plug point anywhere close, for one to say it was an electrical fault. The blaze went up half-way, when my best friend noted that the Christian (who was a relative) took his Bible, and said, “In the name of Jesus, I command you to go!”. The fire literally disappeared under the door!

 

Can you imagine the resentment and frustration I felt, when I heard this. My immediate thoughts were, “Here I am, this faithful Hindu, doing all that I know to be right, and here’s this miserable Christian who’s living a double-standard life, and he says one thing, and the impossible happens.”

 

Being the one, who constantly logically reasons, I went back home, and tried to do just that. There were three things that could have led to the fire being put out. My best friend was also a Hindu and she saw it first-hand, so there was no way she could be making this up. There was no plug-points close by for it to have been that. What could it be? Firstly, there was no way he had any special powers, because there was nothing different or special about him. I disliked him a lot. Secondly, he used his Bible. “Could it be the Bible?”, I pondered. It wasn’t. I had read portions of the Bible before, and it seemed like a really nice story book. He used the name “JESUS”. What was it about the name Jesus, could he have used another name, and the same would happen? I was about to find out. This was the only thing that seemed to make a bit of sense.

 

I so vividly remember, sitting on my bed, and in my anger and frustration saying, “Ok, Jesus (very sarcastically), if you are truly God, then I want a sign so that I may know for sure. That sign should be, that when the pastor comes to pray for the family tomorrow (I heard a few people saying that the pastor was going to visit with them the next day), then he should tell me about you and who you are. Nobody was with me in my room, when I said this.

 

Lo and behold, the next day, the pastor visited, and asked my friend to see if I would go there, because he wanted to talk to me. I was so surprised, but did not say anything to anybody.

I went, and he began to talk to me, and shared the good news (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, and how he died for my sins. That, I need not offer sacrifices and do rituals, because He paid the price and became a sin-offering in my place. That He loved me! And that He had a plan for me. I was so taken aback with all of this, because it seemed to be too good to be true.

 

Then he said something, which I least expected would be one of the highlights of my story. He said, “My sister, (I hated them more for using the terms, ‘brother’ and ‘sister’) you are going to give your life to Jesus, and you will be a witness for Him.” I laughed at the pastor, and said that I will NEVER become a Christian! I was born a Hindu, and would die a Hindu. He said I should remember the date, because I would go back to tell him that I have changed. I said I would just so that I would prove him wrong. It was May 13^th, 1996.

 

Before the pastor could leave, he asked if he could pray for me. Nobody had ever asked me that before. I was so glad that someone would even take the time to pray for me. I began to weep while he prayed. You must realize that to show emotion to me then, was a major sign of weakness, and up until that point, my emotions were rather intact. I couldn’t explain what was going on with me. All I remember was that something beautiful was happening to me. For the first time in 20 years, did I experience peace – perfect peace.

 

I would turn the lamp off and say my last prayer before going to bed. That night, I could not step into the prayer room at home. I found myself going into my room, down on my knees, and talking to Jesus.

I found myself asking Him to come into my life and be my God.

I became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ on May 13^th 1996.

 

My parents were devastated about my conversion, and I was very close to being kicked out of the house, but thankfully that did not happen. There was such a transformation, that my family knew that this was not some ’phase’ I was going through, that would soon pass, but rather that it was something permanent. The evil spirits didn’t leave immediately. I remember the first months after my conversion, I used to curl up into a little ball, (some nights, trembling with fear) and pray so hard before falling asleep. Before this I hardly slept. In spite of the fear, I would have a really good night’s rest, and awake the following day well rested and at peace. As I grew in my new-found faith, I began to learn about the authority I had as a believer, and suddenly I was not so afraid anymore. I learnt that because I knew Jesus and had given my life to Him that I could use his name, and demons would flee, like the Bible says. Slowly, but surely I exercised this authority that I now had in Jesus Christ.

 

Two years later, my mum became a Christian too. God healed her miraculously, and she made the decision to become a follower of the Lord Jesus. My sister decided to become a Christian, after she had seen the change in my life, and all that Jesus had done for me J

 

Today, I am (just like the pastor said 11 years and 5 months later) a witness for the Lord Jesus. I am currently working with an organization called Mercy Ships, which is a hospital ship, following the example of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to Africa’s forgotten poor. www.mercyships.org

 

 

My life has been completely transformed. There are still issues I am dealing with, but what I know for sure, is that I am more than an over comer and ALL things are being worked out for my good. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart. He is the only reason I am alive. He is the only reason I want to live. He has made me whole again, and has given me His perfect peace, one of the many things that money cannot buy.  And now it is so wonderful to see greenery, to hear the birds singing and trees smiling when I would walk outside. These are such nice times for me to enjoy the Lord, and have Him to myself in these moments. I am thankful for that.

 

As you read this, I pray that you too will allow yourself to be open to Him, and see Him for who He is, rather than the impressions we get from some Christians, who do not do a good job of portraying who their God is.

He is full of love, mercy and goodness.

 

In hind’s sight, I am amazed when I think of my faith at this point. There are still things that do not make sense! This is good, because our human minds are so limited and cannot comprehend this Big, Awesome and Mighty God, who created our minds in the first place!

 

Please feel free to contact me, with any questions you may have. I shared my story and you read how our Lord loved a little Hindu girl so much and allow her to experience His love and goodness :). You can write to me.

 

My e-mail is: leenachetty@gmail.com

 

In the grip of His Love

 

Leena