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The life of Bernarda was similar to that of the woman at the well – many men and a thirst for something to really satisfy.
 Bernarda was born and grew up in a small town in Paraguay – one of eight children. Her mother was so poor she gave Bernarda to another family to raise. The family moved to the capital city, Asuncion, and Bernarda continued her life there.
But her life was not a happy one. She was raped by the man of the couple who took her in. As a young woman Bernarda had many ‘lovers’ – always searching for something or someone to satisfy the longing in her heart. She has six children.
Bernarda began to drink heavily and get more and more in debt. That’s when she decided to leave Paraguay and come to Spain to find a job and begin to pay off her debt. She wanted to bring some kind of order to her life. Bernards says, “But I felt so empty, so alone here. I saw many beautiful things I had never seen before, but they didn’t fill me.”
Bernarda felt she needed to find a church. Maybe there she would find an answer. While out walking one day she stopped at a ‘hall’ and went in. It was a meeting place for a heretical, cultic group. “That is not the place to go,” her friends told her. “You need to find a Christian church, an Evangelical church.” And so it was that on her way to the next meeting she passed a large illuminated sign, “Centro Cristiano, Cristo el Salvador” (Christian Center – Christ the Savior) The door was open. She went in. Pastor Alister Belbin was there. They talked together. The pastor explained several basic Bible doctrines. Bernarda left and continued to her meeting down the street. The following Sunday she returned. “I have made my decision. I want to come here. I want to know God. I want to learn His Word.”
 Bernarda has come to Jesus Christ. She is living a different life. She is a new and beautiful creation and is growing daily. Almost every Sunday she brings someone with her to the service. Recently Bernarda was baptized. As she shared her testimony she ended by saying, “I have found a treasure greater than anything I ever had before. I am very, very happy.”
From the newsletter of Alister and Lindy Belbin
AGWM Personnel in Spain
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