THE DREAM THAT STARTED IT ALL

by Onex, Sundermeier Home, Timor-Leste.

I would like to share my testimony of how my family came to know the Bible and God.

Since 2015, my family had lived in a simple house, and we did not really know who God was. Although we knew about God, He was not the only one we worshipped. We also worshipped many gods, including stones, statues, trees, and objects kept in a secret house. We believed that the Bible was only for priests to read, and not for ordinary people like us. Every Sunday, my family went to church, but we did not really have a relationship with God.

Everything began to change in 2019. I thank God that our family came to know Him through the Bible. No one came to teach us. Instead, God used my father.

Before this, my father was known as a troublemaker in our village. Because of his behaviour, many people in the community did not like our family. He also enjoyed gambling and had earned enough money to build a small temple, where he placed a statue and encouraged people to bow down and worship it. Some people in our family were unhappy about this.

One day, one of my father’s friends invited him to work in another district as an infrastructure driver. While they were travelling there, heavy rain caused an accident. Four people were injured, and my father became unconscious. His friends brought him to the national hospital in Dili.

While my father was in pain, he suddenly saw what looked like a white house with three doors. He wanted to open one of the doors and go inside. Then he heard a voice saying, “If you want to go inside, you must first read this book.”

When he awoke, he realised that he was in the hospital.

News of my father’s accident quickly spread throughout the community. Many people spoke badly about him, and some even said that they wanted him to die because of the trouble he had caused.

After spending several days in hospital, my father recovered. He then met a friend who brought him to his home and began sharing the Bible with him. His friend also gave him a Bible. My father felt that God had prepared this moment for him.

Every Sunday, his friend brought him to church. After a few months, his friend gave him five more Bibles written in Bahasa Indonesia, and my father brought them home.

When he entered the house, I gave him a hug, and the rest of my family welcomed him too. After dinner, he began a family devotion.

My mother asked him, “Why do you need to do this? We are not supposed to read the Holy Bible. It is only for priests. If we read it, we will become crazy!”

My father answered, “The Bible is not only for priests. It is for every one of us. Jesus did not die only for priests. He died for all of us, and He is our Redeemer. There is nothing wrong with reading the Bible. Let us start having devotions together.”

From then on, we began having devotions every morning and evening. My family was surprised by how much my father had changed, and even our neighbours were amazed. They wondered, “How has he changed so much?”

However, I was still not interested. I became tired of joining the family devotions. Whenever my father woke me up to attend, I would make excuses, saying that I was sick or not feeling well. I also often bullied my younger sister.

As a result, my father disciplined me. He made me kneel down and memorise Psalm 91. One night, I had to memorise the whole chapter from 8.00pm to 11.00pm before I could go to sleep.

Later, my father sent me to stay at Sundermeier Home. Even though we had devotions every morning and evening, I still did not understand. During school holidays, when I returned home, I continued worshipping idols. I was also lazy to pray and read the Bible.

Then, on 2 November 2025, All Souls’ Day, Brother Felix asked me if I wanted to go to Dili for a three-day youth camp. I decided to go.

The theme of the camp was “Bible Is the Way to Life.” During the camp, God began to change my heart. I was deeply encouraged by His Word:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Through God’s Word, I began to understand that the Bible is not merely a book. It is God’s light to guide my life.

I decided to accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

After returning from the camp, I began sharing what I had learned with my friends at the hostel. When I went home, I also tried my best to gather my family for devotions, even when my father was not around.

My prayer is that one day my mother and eldest sister will also accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I pray that my whole family will walk together on the path of restoration in Christ.

Thank you, and may the Lord bless us!

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