It never ceases to amaze on how God has things planned accordingly to His plan, the best plan. I am so excited to share with you guys today a very special testimony. Today, I am going to be sharing with you a copy of my Grandma’s testimony from how she was born and grew up in Thailand as a Buddhist to being saved as a Christian and serving for what is now 34 years as a youth leader at our church, Bethel Assembly of God. She loves the Lord unapologetically and has a heart for all! For those who do not know, my Grandma is one of the biggest heroes in my life and is one of the most dedicated people to the Lord I have ever met. She has inspired me in my faith and has encouraged me. I thank God for her spirit and her faith because without her and her story who knows if I be writing this blog or even be a follower of Christ. So I pray my grandma’s story speaks to you and inspires you that God can turn any story around!
My search has ended
By Maliwan (Toy) Kirby as told to Dru Misiewicz, Revised by Minda DeChalus
Pentecostal Evangelist
Oh, how wonderful is the love of God! The song “Amazing Grace,” keeps singing in my heart. “I once was lost but now am found.” God cared for me and loved me while I was yet a sinner. I was born in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1949. My parents and grandparents were Buddhists, so I was raised in this religion. When I was 3 years old, I was sent to a private Catholic girls' school. Since it was compulsory that the Buddhist faith be included in the curriculum, I was further educated in this religion. My father died when I was 5 years old, leaving my mother and me alone. Because of her example, I continued attending the Buddhist temple; however; my heart was never satisfied. In 1963, the Vietnam War was beginning to escalate. The United States Army was using Thailand as a supply base. Employees were desperately needed at the bases. I was only 15 years old, but I was one of those hired. Now when I look back, I see God had this planned for me. Had I not been hired, I might never have met my husband nor become a Christian. I had a good job, my work was successful and I had friends. I began thinking to myself how successful my life was. I had forgotten about religion- even Buddhism! I had it made! From that point I began going to nightclubs, dances, and parties, thinking this would add to my “successful life.” Sometimes it seemed almost like a dream. With everything seemingly going so well. I could not understand why I would feel so empty and lonely inside. Though many persons around me, I never had a real friend. No one really cared what happened to me. My mother tried to tell me what she thought was right, but I would not listen to her. I wanted to run my own life. In all of this, I never realized that God has His hand upon me. Three times I was involved in car accidents in which I could have been killed. Had I died, I would have gone to Hell. God put a limit on how far I could go on destroying myself. I praise Him that He never let me get involved with drugs or pills, which easily could have happened. At a dinner party given for the U.S and Thai personnel working at the Army base in 1968, I met my future husband. Kenny was from a Pentecostal background. He had made a commitment to Jesus Christ when he was younger. After he entered the Army, however, he drifted from God and was deeper in sin than I was. Thinking that marriage would make me happy and help me find my answer to whatever it was I was searching for, I accepted Kenny’s marriage proposal. We were married in Thailand in 1969. I tried to be a good wife and make our marriage happy. I was still working, but instead of going out every evening, I would stay home in an attempt to guarantee that the marriage would be successful. Most of the time, however, I was home alone; Kenny was out with friends, drinking. I would worry and wait far into the night, wondering if anything might have happened to him. Even through all of this, we did not have fights or serious arguments. I believe God was already planting the seeds of love and forgiveness in my heart towards Kenny. I am certain had become angry and left him, I would not have found God. Before I even knew Him, God was helping me cope with the situation in my marriage; however, I was finding marriage was not giving me the answer to what I was searching for. Later I learned that during the time God was caring for me and my husband, Kenny’s Grandmother, and other Christian relatives were praying for us. God does answer prayers!
Despite great distances, He hears! Prayers of a Christian Grandmother in America helped save Kenny’s life in Vietnam. In December 1970, our daughter, Marie, was born. I thought this would slow Kenny down a little and make him more of a family man, but nothing changed. We began preparing to come to the United States in early 1971. Even though I knew I would miss my mother and my homeland, still an excitement was growing in me. Deep down inside I felt something special was waiting for me in America- that upon my arrival everything would be alright. I would find what I had been seeking although I still had made no identification- it was something unknown. We arrived in Martinsburg, West Virginia in May 1971. Because we could not find a house or an apartment to rent, we stayed with Kenny’s grandmother, Slyvia Easterday was a wonderful born-again Christian who loved me from the beginning. Many times late at night I would hear her praying. Sometimes she would be speaking in another language. Not understanding what she would be doing, I would tell Kenny, “Something is wrong with your grandmother.” After I was saved, I learned she was praying for Kenny and me. Several times she had asked me to attend church with her, but I would always tell her, “Wait.” One day I decided to go with her because I wanted to meet some new friends and discover what happened inside a church. I shall never forget that experience! Never before had I been in church. Little did I realize then that this was the first step in the right direction to find that something for which I was searching. After that first prayer meeting was over, I knelt and asked God to show me if He was real. I continued going faithfully to church, reading the Bible, and praying. I was seeking to know God. One Sunday morning about 3 months later, I finally found what I had unknowingly been longing for all my life: I accepted Jesus Christ as my own personal savior. I had found out that God is the one true God who sent His only son to die for my sins. It was such a joy to find that the God whom I was praying to was not a statue, but a living God! I now began to add my prayers to Grandmother’s and the other relatives that Kenny would be saved and know God as I knew Him. For a whole year, we prayed for him. Then in November 1972 the Assembly of God in nearby Hancock, Maryland, was having special meetings. When I asked Kenny to go with me, he said he would; a little while later he changed his mind saying he had a previous commitment. All-day I prayed for him. When he came home in the evening, he said he did not have to keep his previous appointment. How I thank God that He was speaking to Kenny. The emphasis of the entire service was salvation, and I knew it was just for Kenny. When the evangelist gave the altar call, Kenny went forward. As I stood behind him, I heard him cry out to God, asking Him to forgive all his sins and to come into his heart. As he cried, I cried. In just a matter of minutes, I heard him begin to speak in other tongues. I was so full of joy for what God was doing for Kenny that I began to speak in other tongues. God has filled Kenny and me with the Holy Spirit at the same time. How I thank God for all He has done in my life- saving me, giving me a Christian husband and a Christian home, and allowing me to go to a good church with lovely Christian friends! How I thank Him that He brought me out of spiritual darkness into the light of Jesus. To think that His great love and wonderful mercy was directed down to a little Thai girl who did not even know Him or want Him! How good He is to work in our lives until we come to the place where we can find Him and love Him as He loves each of Us. There is so much spiritual darkness today- not just in my home country of Thailand, but all over the world. I want my life to be a light shining in the darkness to others so that they too may come to find what their innermost being is seeking. What God has done for me, He can do for anyone. Praise His wonderful name! “And ye shall seek mem, and find me, and when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
My grandmother’s testimony continues to inspire me as a follower of Christ and her dedication to the Lord. I pray for everyone reading that they know no matter who you are or what you have done, God loves you and wants you to be with Him! Praise Him and His plan today!
Blessings,
Barrett
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