Ok for today's second testimony of the day, we have amanda's testimony. So for all those out there who havent submitted ur testimony... u better hurry. =].

"I had always been a rebel at a very young age. It only got worse as I grew older. I argued with teachers, with my principal, which got me retained in Secondary three. But that was not the only reason why I was retained. I was almost never in school. Most nights I would sneak out of my house when my parents went to bed. After a night of partying, I would come home at 5 in the morning and crawl into bed, conveniently “forgetting” to go to school.

I never believed there was a God because I felt neglected a lot. I blamed Him for me being retained and everything that went wrong in my life. Even though I was having fun, making full use of every moment to enjoy myself, there was a lot of pain in my heart. So I also started to cut myself frequently. It seemed that dealing with physical pain was a lot easier than dealing with all the emotional and mental pain I had to go through.

I ran away from home, I snuck out to go party, I missed school, and I cursed at my teachers. You would think that was the worst I could be but it only got worse.

After I graduated from Secondary school, my life went from bad to worse. I picked up drinking, smoking and clubbing. It became so much a part of my lifestyle that one day without it just seemed funny (make me feel uneasy?). I had memberships to clubs which entitled me free entry, which also gave me more reason to club. I thought, “since my friends are all doing it, it can’t be that bad so why not?” That was the sort of thinking that eventually led me to get a tattoo. Nothing could stop me. I had the “I like it so I do it” attitude.

When my Christian friends asked me to go to church, I would reply bluntly with a “NO” and try to change the subject. If they persisted, I would tell them off, “God has never been there for me, so why should I care about what He wants?” My friends eventually gave up asking me to go to church and I continued with my partying.

Then came the day when I woke up with an urge to find God. I woke up thinking; “I need someone in my life I can fully rely on.” I wanted to go to church, but I changed my mind shortly after that when I found out that a party was going on the same day. So for a couple of weeks, I put God aside again. I was either too lazy or had other plans.

Somehow one day I decided, “ok, enough is enough. I will go this weekend” and so I finally went to church. That day was the most amazing day I could ever remember. It was the day God’s presence was so real to me. With tears streaming down from my eyes, I came before God asking Him to forgive me for all the wrongs that I did. After that day, my life was totally changed. I stopped clubbing, drinking and smoking overnight. I also found out that two weeks before I first stepped into the church, a friend whom I have lost contact had started praying for me. God told her to pray for me as she stumbled upon my blog.

Now even my friends see the change in me. They say, “Don’t bother asking her to go party anymore la, she’s a church girl now,” and I’m glad that they think so because I love going to church! Because I love God!

God had planned everything and even though I ignored Him in the beginning and didn’t believe in Him, He reached out to me and chose to save me.

Even when I was cursing Him, mocking Him, he loved me enough to plan for me to return to Him one day. People always ask , “How can you give up partying and all? Don’t you miss it?” It’s simple, really. Jesus gave up his life for me , what’s partying compared to that? Miss it? No, looking back now, the “fun” just can’t match the joy I get from God.

Friends, a few months before today, God has already asked us to be praying for you. Just as He reached out to me with His love, He is reaching out to you. God is the Only One who can turn your upside-down world the right-side up. Thank you."