644. A Lapsed Believer I Encountered While Obeying on a Long Detour, Amidst Extreme Suffering

💌644. A Lapsed Believer I Encountered While Obeying on a Long Detour, Amidst Extreme Suffering

After seeking understanding from the Hairdressers’ Association and returning, I was preparing to attend the laying-on-of-hands ceremony at the charismatic seminar, but the suffering I was offering up was extremely intense. However, President Paul Lee said, “Julia, come up to Gwangju and ride with me.” Since the bus carrying the volunteers departing from Gwangju passed through Naju on its way to Yeongam, I could have waited at the Naju terminal and joined them on the bus to travel together.

I did not have to go all the way to Gwangju, but I obeyed the president’s words, with Semchigo as if I were loved. Although I was in great pain, I thought, “Ah, the Lord must have a purpose in this, Amen!” and boarded the bus to Gwangju. The suffering continued throughout the journey and after getting off at the terminal, I was even unable to sit down. I could not even care about the gazes of the people coming and going and lay down on a terminal bench, waiting for the volunteers.

Offering up the pain with Semchigo as if I were loved, for the hairdressers who had gone on a sightseeing trip and for the retreatants of the Charismatic seminar that would take place today, I lay on the bench and waited for a long time. Eventually, all four volunteers gathered together. Even so, I could not possibly get up. Everyone was shocked when they saw me and president Paul, feeling deeply sorry for me, said, “Julia, I will do the laying-on-of-hands for the Julia team instead. You do not have to go, okay?” and tried to stop me.

I said, “President, the seeds I have sown, I will reap myself. Please help me.” He replied, “Alright, who can stop Julia’s sacrifice and love? If it is you, Julia, you will accomplish it even while dying.” I was helped by the volunteers to get on the bus and sat alone in the second seat from the right, while the four of them sat two on each side, in front and behind me.

A little while later, a man sat next to me. If it had been the old me, I would have hated it and moved to another seat if a man sat next to me. However, from that moment, even in the midst of my pain, words to share the Lord with him began to come out of me. Then, the volunteers in front and behind me whispered, “Now, Julia is beginning to share the ‘Word’ of the Lord.”

Driven by a passion to share God, I forgot the pain and continued talking. Eventually, I discovered that he was a lapsed believer. I kept conversing with him until we reached our destination in Yeongam. He shared that, having attended church, he had been deeply wounded by priests, nuns, and fellow believers, which led to the growth of hatred, animosity and anger. Eventually, he developed distorted thoughts about Catholicism.

I continued speaking, hoping that the wounds he had received in the church would be healed offering it up as a Prayer of Life. As I shared the high, deep, and wide love of the Lord and the Blessed Mother, and spoke about love achieved through forgiveness and reconciliation, he received it all very well and said, “Wow, it is amazing that there are fellow believers like you in the Catholic Church.”

So I said, “I am just an unworthy sinner. If you have received grace, it is the Lord, who loves you, who has done it. I am just an instrument used for a brief moment.” Then, the brother said, “I really want to go to church now. The Lord must have sent you to me today for my sake.”

At that moment, the volunteers sitting behind me said, “Now, Julia is alive, sharing the Word!” One by one, they spoke and without even realizing it myself, the pain had disappeared and I was sharing the Word with a flushed face. I then invited him, saying, “Brother, there is a laying-on-of-hands ceremony at the church today. Would you like to come?”

In fact, it was an event for those who had attended the seminar, so he was not supposed to be there but without realizing it, I invited him. To my surprise, he happily replied, “Yes, I will definitely go,” and made the promise with a joyful face. I gave infinite thanks to the Lord, who had reignited the lapsed soul with His burning love.

“My love, my Lord! I thank You for all the grace You have bestowed upon me today, unchanged. Through this unworthy sinner, You have called Your son. May the plan You have set be definitely fulfilled in him, so that You may receive glory.”

“Yes, my beloved Little Soul! Because you strive to reveal and share My profound love and truth with many, so they may be awakened and freed from the chains of sin, the devil seeks to weaken even your free will, leaving you powerless to act. Yet even today, you have triumphed over the devil and saved a soul , and My heart is deeply pleased. Stay ever more vigilant and continue to exert the power of love.”

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMn-IyINZ8oGN8Jv4M0-pozcdF67tEqzlPkk4s0EZKdnOdEw/viewform