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"I was left at my wits end and didn't know what to do. At that time for some reason I just cried out to God and said, 'God help me.' And he did!"
I have 2 brothers and until I was about 11 was raised with them in Maple Ridge. Then my dad closed his clothing business and we moved to Chilliwack. I enjoyed my childhood and did typical kids things. We did not go to church although occasionally we attended a Catholic Church Service. I remember that they did not particularly grab my attention.
In 1992 I graduated from Sardis Secondary School and just took it easy for a few years. I really focused on my artwork and produced pen and ink prints, and some portraits. I took my work to exhibitions and Pow Wows and was doing quite well at it. After a couple of years I began a relationship with a woman, I'll call D. She had a young son, Ben, that as the years went by I did my best to be a father figure for him. In 1997 my beautiful little daughter Jewel was born and I instantly fell in love with her. What a gift!
Relationship struggles
Over time, my relationship with D became tense and things were not working out. We were on again, then off again and it seemed like a continuous roller coaster. In 1999 we separated and I moved out for the last time. D and the kids stayed in the house that was on my family's property. She started seeing a new man who seemed to be in quite a bit of turmoil and whom the police knew. This caused problems with my own family, particularly when Social Workers became involved. My family wanted to defend me and as a result were resentful of D. Tension mounted and eventually things just blew up. D wanted to flee and take Jewel and Ben all the way to Ontario. I knew I could not let that happen but, D was in control of the situation and I was just busy trying to keep peace. I thought it would be better for the kids to keep our separation out of the court system but it didn't seem to be working.
D and I managed to compromise and she moved to the Penticton area instead of Ontario. For a year I commuted by bus to Penticton on weekends because I couldn't bear not to see the kids. It became so hard to have to leave Jewel on the Mondays while she was crying and clinging to me on the bus, so after about a year I moved to Penticton. I was feeling used and abused by D and the decisions she was making but I wanted to be near Jewel and Ben.
Christian workmates
While I was looking for work in the Penticton area I met up with Tom. He's a good man and I now know that God put me in his path. At the time however, he just needed some help and called me in on the side to help him with a moving job. I then hooked a job in Summerland (10 mins north of Penticton). That was short lived as opportunity came to work with Tom at a place called Best Seats in Town. A core group of Christian people worked there and right above was the Vineyard Church. It seemed as though half of the employees attended church there.
There was a time in Summerland when I was living in the same house as D and the kids just because it made paying the rent easier. But there was a lot of anger and one night D blew up and became violent again. Unfortunately, the kids witnessed this. After a while things calmed down and I stayed at the other end of the house. I was left at my wits' end and didn't know what to do. At that time for some reason I just cried out to God and said, "God help me." And He did.
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I took the Alpha course
It was after that evening that things began to fall into place for me. Tom invited me to church and I went with him. I took the Alpha program and God just kept putting more and more of the people I needed, in my path. God came through in so many different ways it's hard to list them all. He even provided me with places to stay.
One night I was sitting talking quietly with Tom and I prayed "The Prayer" confessing my sins and inviting Jesus into my heart. That was almost 6 years ago and now I am just trying to live the best life I can. I know that every day Satan is always poking at me and trying to bring me down. But I pray and I just try to stay focused on Jesus.
God has given me some incredible friendships, before and after getting to know Him.
Jason the friend
Jason is a friend God has given me and he is such a good man. We only worked together for about a month and then he tried out other jobs. We crossed paths again a year later and started to hang out. I joined his Growth Group and we just clicked. He and his wife are beautiful people. At the time Jason was living a full life with his wife, mother-in-law, and pets and was great with kids, but was not blessed with any of his own. The doctor finally told them that they would not be able to have any children. They struggled but did come to accept the news. Just recently I had this incredible urge to call Jason and was just planning to do it when my phone rang. It was Jason calling to tell me he and his wife had a beautiful, healthy baby girl. What a gift God gave to them and He opened my eyes a little more to all He can do in our lives.
Baptized with daughter
I was able to introduce more of the church to my kids. I was baptized at the Vineyard Church in Penticton in 2002 and was so excited to have my daughter with me that day. Jewel was right beside me, every step of the way and wanted to know all about my Baptism. She wanted in the tank too! My mom and younger brother came and a few other relatives joined us and I was thankful they were able to make it.
For a time things continued to get worse between D and me. She wouldn't let me see the kids or talk to them and it hurt so much. I really missed them but I was also growing with God and kept trying to give my struggles to Him. Just knowing He was there and still is there today has had a huge impact on my life. I look back now and realize that I would have been toast if He wasn't in my life. I'm pretty sure I would have done something really stupid. I have made many mistakes and I know I'm not done, but He forgives me and guides me through them as well.
Strength for tough times
There is so much more to this story but it's enough to say that God has given me the strength to get through the toughest times. This past year has been the ugliest between D and I, and we also lost my dad May 8, 2007. God is getting me through this as well. He blesses me each and every day. Whether it is the business I help to run or even just His presence through friends and family. God is awesome!
Walter's story is contributed to canadianchristianity.com from Southside Life church in Chilliwack, B.C.
May 15/2008
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