Newly Published Messages Issue

December 2015 Issue 30 ISSN 1363 9358 MAGAZINE

Newly Published Messages Issue My Jesus, You are my only Love in my heart, my only Hope in my life, my only Light in my soul, for this reason, remain with me, Christ; my guilt is overwhelming me, and I am sorry for having sinned, come and free me from all my sins, do not prolong Your silence, come and renew me, stir me with Your Wisdom and let your Holy Spirit be my Ruler, amen

TLIG, May 26 1994 TRUE LIFE IN GOD December 2015 · ISSUE 30 · ISSN 1663 9358

Some significant things happened to me recently. On July 24th I celebrated 40 years as a Catholic priest (my Ruby Jubilee). Before that I knew that I was going to move to a different parish and a different CONTENTS town, so my Jubilee Celebration became my farewell to the parish I had lived and worked in for nine years. Then I began to pack. I had about six weeks to get ready. For one of those weeks I was on pilgrimage to Santiago in Spain and Fatima in Portugal. I was already tired and under stress, having had to cancel a holiday some weeks before. When I got home from the pilgrimage I had three days to complete my packing before I moved. The move has been physically traumatic. I have never been so tired. Some days I have been almost completely exhausted – and I am still unpacking! What has all that got to do with the theme of this magazine? Growing in holiness can be traumatic at times. It means change or more accurately conversion. Conversion can be tied to one event, place and Vassula Receives Fourth Gold Peace Award...... 4 time, but it is seldom complete since as long as we live on earth, we are constantly being challenged and we are growing, whether we know it Vassula’s Second Visit to the Congo...... 10 (or like it) or not. I mean that as long as we are trying to follow Christ, there is always the need to repent and move forwards. Sometimes A new Beth Myriam - Maui, Hawaii USA...... 15 traumatic events and experiences can make us acutely aware that we are not as we should be. Impatience, complaining, discouragement, Special Limited Edition Canvas Prints...... 16 ingratitude and selfishness can be part of life-changing events. We can easily become so taken up with material things that we begin to lose sight of spiritual realities. Still, within each challenging experience Newly Published TLIG Messages...... 17 there is grace and the call to holiness. Testimony from the USA...... 20 Really, we are all in transit, but this movement is never a purely personal journey for a Christian; we have to bring others along with us; Be One with Me - DVD...... 21 we have to travel together. Even though each one’s death is personal, the life we live now and the life we hope to live beyond the grave More testimonies...... 22 always involves others. Even our most painful, personal sufferings are never really our own. If we are trying to live with and in Christ then all that we must endure is taken up into His Cross and sanctified through His death and resurrection; nothing is wasted. We may look at ourselves and our faults and be tempted to doubt the possibility of holiness, but then we need to turn again to the Cross where we will once again find the answer and hear the call. Fr. Abberton

About the Messages of True Life in God Messages are profoundly spiritual and are written in a clear and direct language. We are invited to enter into conversation with God substituting Vassula’s name in these texts for our own. Once True Life in God having done that we are gently led into the mysteries of the Triune God and begin to grow in the Knowledge of God. Through the bounty of the Holy Spirit acting in us (Second Pentecost) we then begin to grow Vassula was born in Egypt of Greek parents on in God’s Love, Peace and Unity. Jesus’ prayer to the Father (John 17;21) 18 January 1942. She is married and has two “may they be one in Us, as You are in Me and I am in You, so that the world grown-up boys. Although baptised into the may believe it was You who sent Me;” will then be accomplished. Jesus Greek Orthodox Church she rarely thought explains about this prayer on 10 December 2001: “My words intonated of God until 1985 when she began to receive were meant that the whole of creation must be affected into a spiritual Divine Messages. These have been named, by unity not a unity by a signed treaty; to fulfil My Words the churches must Jesus Himself, True Life in God. They have now seek first humility and love, graces that can be obtained through the Holy been translated into over 40 languages and all the work has been done by Spirit and through a great repentance;” volunteers; Vassula receives no royalties for any books published. In the latest Messages published under the title of Odes of the Holy In these Prophetic Messages (some of the prophecies have already been Trinity, the Holy Trinity summarize the purpose of these Divine fulfilled) God is calling the whole of His creation to return to Love while Messages: to rediscover the revealed Truth and to enter into the asking Christians to unify His Body, His Church (“Orthodox! Catholics! spiritual espousal with God, the wedding feast of Apocalypse Chapter Protestants! You all belong to Me! You are all One in My Eyes!”). Vassula’s 21. In that union of creature with God, God’s Will will be done on earth mission is to go out and proclaim the Truth. She has now visited over 70 as it is in Heaven, for we will find true Life, the life in God and with God. countries and has spoken in over 900 meetings, some wiith audiences as large as 100,000 people. www.tlig.org Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Peace Gold Award Ceremony, Dhaka Bangladesh, February 21 to – 24th February 2015: Towards the end of 2014, whilst involved in helping to prepare for a small True Life in God retreat in Egypt, Vassula asked me if I were free to accompany her to Bangladesh, as she had been nominated for a fourth time to receive the Peace Gold Award. The award ceremony was launched in memory of Buddhist Scholar Atish Dipankar, Mahasanhanayaka Vissuddhananda Mahathero, Sanghanayaka Agrasara Mahathero and Kripasaran Mahathero by Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha. I was overjoyed and excited on two accounts: namely because of the thought that I would be returning to Bangladesh where I had lived for almost five years, where I actually first met Vassula in person and more importantly, because of the fact that Vassula had been nominated for a fourth time in recognition of her great contribution and efforts towards establishing inter-religious harmony and promoting world peace among all peoples and faiths. Thankfully, I was able to accept the invitation to accompany her and this short report is an attempt at sharing my experience of this breakfast and warm camaraderie from several of the Athenian occasion and mission visit to Bangladesh, the country in which stalwarts and collaborators of True Life in God: Gethsemane, True Life in God began, almost 30 years ago. Teresa, Theodora and Eni. They took us to the Athens airport; we bade our farewells and proceeded to prepare for the four and a half Bangladesh hour flight to Doha in Quatar on the Persian Gulf from where we Bangladesh is the world’s eighth most populous country with a would catch a connecting flight to Dhaka. population of over 160 million people, as well as being one of the We arrived in Doha on time and after a two and half hour wait for most densely populated countries in the world. It is has the world’s our connection, we boarded late evening, yet again en route for largest delta and is known as the “land of rivers”. This seems so Dhaka. I was chatting with Vassula whilst we were in transit and appropriate when we consider that the work of the Holy Spirit asked her how she comes to a decision as to who should travel with began this love Hymn here in Bangladesh. We are reminded of her when she goes on missions. She replied that she just seems to the Message of June 19th 1995, “seek Me, your Lord, I am Love;…. get a feeling about who she should ask and doesn’t really know the ask for My Spirit of Counsel to make you desire integrity, humility, reason why. However, it often manifests itself afterwards and she loyalty and goodness so that your step will not fail you do wrong; gave me the example of someone who had accompanied her on unfailingly, My Spirit of Counsel will make His Law known to one of her trips to Mexico. I remember thinking to myself , What you and counsel you, saying: “do not equal anyone to God; serve on earth can I do that would be different from anyone else being the cause of right, lift the oppressed; do no harm to anyone, but asked to accompany?, and then thought to myself, “all I can do is love and help one another;….be alert to those counsels and you look after people, as my background is in nursing and midwifery. shall fragrance, and your happiness will be like a river breaking At that, I thought no more of it. into several rivulets, announcing and counselling others to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the glory of Our Trinitarian Holiness Travelling to and arriving in Dhaka which can adorn your spirit in our Splendour forever and ever;” Whilst handing our boarding cards over to the attendant in As I was aware that Vassula would have only finished a mission preparation for boarding, it was wonderful to hear the chatter visit to France the day prior to our departure for Bangladesh, I of Bengali amongst several excited workers who appeared to travelled to Athens to meet up with her, so as to accompany her on be returning home for a spell from their work based in Doha, the 6000 mile trip across Asia to the land of the Bengal (the literal a place from where many Bengalis seek employment, far away meaning of Bangladesh). from their homeland. After spending the night in Athens, we began our journey The flight lasted over five hours and as we approached Dhaka, we to Bangladesh the following morning having been provided were surprised to hear the engines of the plane change sound. We

4 TRUE LIFE IN GOD Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award (continued) suddenly started to ascend again and both Vassula and I wondered his enthusiasm as to what the day ahead would bring, disregarding what was going on. The pilot announced shortly afterwards, that any health issue that may be looming. they had misjudged the approach to the airport and had to make a Having decided to change accommodation to an area in Gulshan second attempt at landing. Ten minutes later, we approached Dhaka that was more familiar to us both, we discussed this with Father again and this time successfully landed, heralded by thousands of Stephen; instead of him settling into the accommodation in which breakfast hungry mosquitoes in the corridors of the airport and at we had just spent the night, we all moved to a nearby hotel in which the reception doors of the main terminal. Upon exiting we were we had previously stayed. We were fortunate, since this hotel did able to witness the sun rising, as if to greet us and say “Welcome”. not seem as keen on breeding the hordes of mosquitoes as the one While feeling the heat and humidity upon our faces, hearing and in which we had just spent the night. seeing the great throng of hundreds of people waiting and looking for their friends and relatives arriving, as the dust and the various After quickly settling into this accommodation, we were ushered smells of an airport were wakening up to another morning, made by Sujit and Imam Mohammed Islam into a waiting car, headed for us all too aware that we were 4 hours ahead of Athens time and in a Dhammarajika Buddhist Monastery complex to attend the 150th world very different from the one left behind in Europe. birthday of the most venerable Kripasharan Matathero. Once customs and passport control had been negotiated, we passed Although this venue is not that far away from where we were through the terminal to make our way to the gate where our staying, Dhaka is such a vast city with over 14 and a half million dear friends, Imam Mohammed Islam and Sujit Barua excitedly people in just 125 square miles, that one has to consider timing when awaited Vassula’s arrival. With tuberose, jasmine and gladioli planning any journey that needs to be undertaken, as traffic can be bouquets in hand ready to present to Vassula as she greeted them, so congested that it easily and literally brings any mode of transport both Sujit and Mohammed Islam provided the warmest welcome to an immediate halt; if this factor is forgotten, it can disrupt any sort to the “land of rivers.” of occasion. We were quickly ushered out of the airport and onto the busy On arrival at Dhammerajika, Vassula stepped out of the car to be highway that runs from the airport to the area of Banani, through greeted , not only with the midday heat of Dhaka brushing her which we took a route to Gulshan, passing by the house that Vassula face through the rays from the sun, but with a great throng of noise lived in when she resided with her family in Bangladesh and from from the drumbeats and trumpets of the Ramesshor band party where the Messages and her charism really began. to announce her arrival. The dust, the noise from the drums and trumpets and the excitement from the people gathered mixed We knew that we would be visiting the area of Banani in the next with the smell of bouquets and garlands of roses and tuberose that few days. In knowing that and because Vassula and I were tired lined the walkway of the great marquee entrance to the Monastery after the journey, the driver, directed by our friends was keen to complex was like a scene out of a movie. There were other friends make haste and arrive at the area of Gulshan where we were who had joined us and who happened to have very good camera accommodated in a guest house. From here, we managed to get a equipment with them, so they were able to take good photographs few hours rest after the long journey, before Mohammed Islam and and shots of the whole occasion. They seemed to be mesmerised Sujit arrived to take us out to lunch. by the reception that Vassula received, as she walked down the The hospitality of the Bengali people is overwhelming; no sooner entrance of the Dhammarajika Buddhist Monastery complex had we experienced this hospitality at lunchtime, as we were back where the most venerable Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero out in the evening, invited for supper by a colleague and friend who awaited her arrival and ushered her into a small room where he is the Member Secretary for the Global Unity for Peace, Mr Jahangir receives important guests.

Hossain. The evening was spent discussing some of the work that Jahangir is involved in, as well as general issues in relation to Bangladesh. It was a welcome opportunity to be able to set the situation of Bengladesh in context. Bangladesh was experiencing yet another period of long strikes which are known colloquially as hartals; it makes the planning and moving about difficult, as local transport and infrastructure is impacted in a challenging way, when there is work to be done regarding a mission visit. Nevertheless, we were all fairly confident that the hartals would not affect the program for the next four days as planning had been meticulously thought out by Sujit. Following a fairly restful sleep, we awoke in the morning and after having had breakfast were delighted to receive a phone call to inform us that Fr Stephen Rafael from Calcutta had travelled from India (as Calcutta, in the Bengal region of India is only 150 miles away and a thirty minute flight away from Dhaka) to join Vassula at this 4th Gold award ceremony. Fr Stephen looked tired and was The most venerable Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero giving Vassula experiencing a bit of difficulty with his chronic asthma from which a gift on the day of the 150th anniversary of the birthday of most venerable he suffers. However, in his usual good and positive manner shared Kripasharan Mahathero, 22nd February 2015 TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 5 Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award (continued)

Vassula pointing to the pendant gift she had received Following this short time period of greeting with Vassula, we were ushered out and onto a large platform looking out onto a vast audience of people who had come to join the celebration. Although I felt uncomfortable at being up on the platform alongside Vassula, as I was merely accompanying her, I was impressed all the more with the great admiration that the Buddhists here in Bangladesh give Vassula, as well as the honour they give her as a guest who brings a message of global peace. It also provided me with a brilliant view of the whole scene before our eyes. There were several speeches made by the National Buddhist Youth congregation in the morning; and although Vassula does not speak any Bengala (Bangla), she sat for several hours throughout these talks, as if she understood each word, never flinching in the increasing heat and noise that the day produced. We were invited to join everyone for a lunch that the most Venerable Suddhananda Mahathero oversaw After lunch we met with some of the other 12 distinguished guests himself in the large complex dining room. The guests were made who had been invited to receive the Atisha peace gold award for to feel like royalty, whilst he ate nothing. There were vast vats of their outstanding contribution in different fields. rice and several different types of curry that young men who had been housed in the Monastery complex had prepared for everyone. Vassula met Jenny Lee from the republic of Korea, who represented the Heavenly culture, World Peace, Restoration of light. She wished to speak and to have her picture taken with Vassula, (below) since her friend was also going to receive an award.

Vassula and Fr Stephen Rafael with Jenny Lee and friends Young men preparing to serve lunch at Dhammarajika Monastery complex and below Vassula and Sujit Barau at Dhammarajika Dhaka, following We were again ushered into the large marquee area for the life and lunch on the day of the 150th anniversary of the birthday of the most venerable Kripasharan Mahathero, February 22nd 2015. works seminar of Kripasaran Mahathero. Following a recitation from Holy Tripitaka and an inaugural speech by most venerable

6 TRUE LIFE IN GOD Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award (continued)

Bengal Buddhist Association and Dharmankur Buddhist Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Through the fruits of his hard work and sacrifices, Venerable Kripasaran, resulted a revival of Buddhism to rediscover its legacy. Venerable Krispasaran should be an example to all that without sacrifice and hard work nothing can change. Today, we are gathered here in a place where we notice the continuation of sacrifice, of hard work that is being done, sacrificing one’s life to serve the orphan, to have compassion for the widow, and lift the oppressed, to console the weak, the sick and lonely, to encourage the persecuted. These acts of charity are signs of dignity and true love that are done without self-interest. Such people are born not to live for themselves, but to be of service to others and give their life for others. They are an example of compassion, while charity is an act of high nobility and ever so honourable. On earth, each one of us has a mission, which we must complete successfully. But it cannot be successful unless we do it sincerely with hard work and a lot of self-sacrifice. My part and duty in this world, after I’ve been called by God, is to promote peace, reconciliation and unity. It is not easy with what we are facing in our times, but I depend Vassula here is speaking with a Tibetan Monk through a translator who was on God’s help. very interested to hear about Vassula’s charism and about the Messages. Our Creator has impressed upon all His creation in their conscience Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero, Vassula delivered her what is right and what is wrong. Now, everyone must have noticed that speech as a “distinguished guest “. This was the main speech of the world is in a pretty bad shape. Corruption, violence and sufferings the whole mission visit and I stood back on the ground below the have augmented. The origin of any sort of conflict is usually located in platform from where Vassula delivered the speech, so that I could our heart and sometimes well rooted. Our heart is like a mirror of our feel the temperature of the crowd, not in the literal sense of the soul. It reflects on us what we have within it. If we have no place for word, but to determine how I felt they received what was being the Divine in our heart but instead carry hatred and war, this heart’s said. I watched faces concentrating on every word, consuming feelings will be exteriorized and they will become reality, for a man’s their meaning, as if it were being offered as a gift for those who actions flow out of what fills his heart. wished to take; and take it, they seemed to do. At night, I look at the stars and the planets; I look at the vast Universe. Then I see our world, which is as a small speck of dust floating among zillions of stars and planets among this beauty of our galaxy. Vassula’s Inter-religious speech 2015 And I ask myself, how is it that this speck of dust that is our planet, managed to have so much barbaric violence and hatred coming out of its inhabitants? What inspires its inhabitants to be so wicked? What went wrong with humanity? Why is it obeying more and more the law of Evil rather than the Law of God, which is Love and Mercy? Where has humanity’s dignity gone? What dignities can the poor and homeless have, when they can hardly survive, due to lack of the basics of life? Where has human sensitivity gone for these unprivileged people? What happened to the freedom that God has given us? Where is the freedom of speech, freedom of religion that, were they to be expressed, wouldn’t avoid discrimination and beheadings in a most barbaric way? It is against God’s Commandments, we received from Him, to kill. The 5th Commandment says: “Thou shalt not kill.” Perhaps some of us have failed to speak up about dictatorial leadership, unethical behaviour towards others, and have been disrespectful of the beliefs and traditions of the others, either because of fear, or Vassula making her acceptance speech at the Atisha Peace Gold indifference, or of pride. Therefore, I suggest we teach our people to award ceremony, February 2015 promote understanding and respect for each other’s religious traditions It is my great pleasure and privilege as the representative of the followers and refrain from denigrating them. With this we will gain the trophy, of “True Life in God,” to connect with you in honor of the 150th Birth which is: peace and harmony and unity. Anniversary of Most Reverend Kripasaran Mahathero, Founder of The entire Universe functions in Harmony and Order under the Eyes

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 7 Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award (continued) of God, so how is it that there are so many on this planet who have failed to recognize the Order and the Harmony of God? We were not created to cover the earth with tyranny and blood. We were not created to be murderers; but it is obvious that all these carnages are because man has forgotten his Creator and his failure to give glory to God. On earth, we all live under the same sun and are but one big family under God’s Light. No matter what part of the world we may come from, we are all equal before God’s Eyes. Those who are in different religions are not less creatures made in the Image of God and destined ultimately to live in the House of God. And as human beings, we have basically the same needs; we all look for happiness, we all want good health. Who of us does not enjoy peace? Who of us does not enjoy good health? No one. It is therefore, our responsibility for one another to cultivate a worldwide Vassula receiving the Atisha Peace Gold award for the fourth time, awareness of justice to stop this evil and this division among people. February 2015 We have the capacity if we try harder to work diligently together in bridging our divisions instead of augmenting them; we should become breach menders, mending our differences and promoting peace where there is war, unity where there is division. In remaining silent while watching all these injustices and doing nothing about it, for fear of losing one’s reputation, or one’s identity, or comfort, or one’s life, this is considered far from human dignity; it is hypocritical; and nothing goes unseen in God’s Eyes. We need a solution. The first thing one should focus on is education, which will resolve conflicts starting with a thirst for the truth. Educating the family, and extending it to our institutions, to our religious communities, to the whole world, telling them that man can On that Sunday morning, after breakfast, we noticed that Father live in peace and harmony, and can be reconciled with one another Stephen was not too well. He was having difficulty breathing and so long as they learn to love; reminding them of their Divine origin had chest pain as well as shortness of breath. I too had become and moral values; rather than inspiring them with revenge. We must unwell with severe back pain, nothing that had bothered me in remind them to become the Image of the Living God, or of our Saints, the past, and could hardly move. It was very strange; we believed who have no trace of impurity, no trace of revenge, no trace of hatred. it was like some sort of “attack”, almost a distraction for Vassula, The world has been over-focusing on technology and materialism so as to interfere with the mission for which she had been sent to and has somewhat neglected the humanitarian part and its realities. Bangladesh. Both of us, however, accompanied Vassula as planned. Humans are not robots. We had some time free in the morning for our trip with Vassula to Banani, the area that she lived in, in Dhaka when her charism In all religions there is always a Holy Law to follow and Holy began in 1985. We went to the seminary where Vassula had gone, Books. This Law and Holy Books are meant to lead us into sanctity, in order to speak to a member of the clergy seeking explanation to be worthy in the Eyes of God. We should enter this Holy Path of was happening to herself at that time. We also visited the house in Righteousness, whether it’s a Christian law, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, which she lived and from where she used to write the Messages, Jewish or whatever else, and live it, not just know about it, so that at the very beginning. I took the photo below, as I watched Vassula our lives can be transformed and through this transformation we can stand and ponder from the doors of the church how much life transform the world. We should be like a city that’s set on a hill that seemed to have changed from those days. cannot be hidden! Therefore, all religions have an important role to play in maintaining peace and unity. I sincerely hope that the day will come that through our efforts we will bring peace, harmony and unity that are so desired by all of us and that we can one day say sincerely to one another: “my brother, my sister.” The event was closed by a vote of thanks by Mr Anupam Barua, Headmaster of Dharmarajika High School. From there we were provided dinner at the monastery complex, after which, we made our way back to our hotel. Father Stephen kindly celebrated Mass; all three of us agreed that the day had been eventful and had drawn to a natural close. It was almost midnight.

8 TRUE LIFE IN GOD Vassula receives Fourth Gold Peace Award (continued)

We returned to the hotel from Banani just before midday; we were to be picked up as we had been the previous day and go to Dharmarajika Monastery complex. This day was the actual day that Vassula was to receive the award. When we arrived, we were ushered to take seats in the larger hall complex within the monastery grounds. There must have been about 700 people in the hall, if not more. There was a large stage set, ready to receive the guests as they were called to receive their awards. The event began again by a recitation from the Holy Tripitaka, the name given to the Buddhist Holy Scriptures. At the beginning of the event, there was the customary offer of garlands for the guests, who were comprised of Ambassadors and High Commissioners of China, Bhutan, India, and Myanmar. Vassula receiving the medal/award Additionally, the event began with a dance drama that provided each guest with a wonderful example of the passionate zest for Finale art that the Bengalis seem to have, along with an example of the broad spectrum of artistic activity that they are engaged in. This The following day, Monday the 24th of February was supposed to stream of artistic expression seems to stem from a cultural growth be a day in which Vassula could go back again to visit some other that came about due to Bengal being the seat of Buddhism and places in Banani and rest before having to go to the airport just Mauryan learning. The guests were treated to a most spectacular before midnight to begin the long journey back to Athens. performance. However, just after breakfast, Fr Stephen took ill again and collapsed, having to be admitted to a local hospital. I was able to speak to the nurses who were looking after him, as I had worked in Bangladesh for almost 5 years and knew enough of the language to do this. My job, at that time, was in working at the post graduate school of nursing. The doctor in attendance only wanted to do a chest x-ray; however, I pushed for a whole load of other tests and examinations to be done, as I deemed it necessary due to his persistent ill health. With this added set of examinations, we found out what the matter was and Father was able to get treated in the proper way that was necessary for his condition. I stayed with him in the hospital up until 45 minutes before we had to leave for the airport to fly back. It wasn’t until Vassula and I were at the point of leaving the hotel, that Vassula said, “thank goodness you Dance drama presented during and after the award ceremony were here”. I suddenly realized that she had been inspired yet February 23rd 2015 again, and I had the answer to my question…why did she ask me The award ceremony then began and Vassula was called up fourth to go to Bangladesh! in line to receive the gold award. The honourable speaker of the Bangladesh National Assembly, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury We departed from Dhaka at about 2 a.m and arrived back in presented Vassula with the award, and in turn, Vassula made a Athens the following day after two flights, again via Doha. It had short speech of thanks, paraphrasing some of what her speech had been a short mission trip in comparison to the trips that Vassula contained the previous day. The noise in the hall was immense and does regularly, but it had certainly been action packed. the excitement tangible as people seemed proud of the occasion. Carol Chamberlain

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 9 The second mission of Vassula’s in the Democratic Republic of Congo was once again a great success! Initially foreseen for 4 cities: Kinshasa, Kikwit, Lubumbashi, and Likasi, the visit was finally settled for the first 3 cities. Accompanied by Fr. Rolf and Ms Varda, Vassula arrived in Lubumbashi on the night of May 15, on a special flight organized with Our Lord’s blessings. LUBUMBASHI On May 16th, (Saturday) at 11:30 am, Vassula and her group were welcomed by the Archbishop of Lubumbubashi, His Excellency Msgr. Jean-Pierre Tafunga. The meeting was very friendly, and allowed both personalities to get to know each other and Hell », which meaningfully struck him.: « If people would take exchange views on a certain number of topics related to Vassula’s seriously the warnings regarding Satan, he would already have been banned from the hearts of men and of the world. If people would take into account God’s calls to conversion, all men and women would already be holy ». (Page 247). The message given by Vassula was very welcomed and everyone was touched by the depth of the message on Repentance, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, and other themes as well. Vassula attends a dinner with Clergy after the Conference

mission.At 2:20 pm, together with the Archbishop, the group went to the stadium called « Stade Tout Puissant Mazembe » where a big crowd was awaiting Vassula’s conference. Among them were members of the provincial authorities, notably the Governor of Vassula speaks to the Orthodox and Catholic priests the Province of Katanga, Moïse Katumbi and his dear spouse Carine Katumbi, the ministers and other city authorities, and many religious representatives. The audience present at the conference was estimated at fifteen thousand people, according to some sources. It was the Archbishop himself who presented Vassula, through some welcoming words. The Archbishop wanted to reassure his guest that he indeed reads the messages of True Life in God. He notably cited an extract of the book « Heaven is Real, but so is On Sunday, May 17, Vassula attended Holy Mass at the where she was welcomed and introduced to the assembly by the Parish priest of the Cathedral.

10 TRUE LIFE IN GOD KIKWIT On Monday, May 18th at 11:00 am, a private jet took off from Lubumbashi to Kikwit, 2,000 kms. [1242 miles] away. On board were Vassula Rydén, Fr. Rolf, Varda, Betty, Ange and a journalist from the TV channel Digital Congo;

Fr. Rolf Bety

At the Kikwit airport, after a 2hr. 45mins. flight, Vassula and her group were warmly welcomed by Msgr. Eduard MUNUNU, bishop of Kikwit, Senator Jean MABAYA and other political and religious personalities of the city of Kikwit. A military band was there as well. It played a Hymn for Unity c o m p o s e d specifically for the event. After the welcoming ceremonies at the airport, Vassula was accompanied by a convoy of many vehicles that TLIG Congo organizer Ange and Vassula crossed the Residence of Senator Mabaya

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 11 The conference was attentively listened to by the audience, and appreciated by the Bishop, who had unexpectedly improvised another speech to convey his joy. He ended by singing with the crowd a song composed by himself, which expressed that the Lord had just visited His people in Kikwit... It was very moving. The audience that attended Vassula’s conference was between 12 and 15 thousand people. The event was broadcasted direct via sattelite by Digital Congo nationwide, in Kikwit by Venus TV and in Lubumbashi by Nyota TV.

Bishop of KIKWIT exchanges words with VASSULA city’s streets, lined by the population that enthusiastically greeted her along the way, until she reached the private residence of Senator MABAYA where the group was invited to stay overnight. The day ended with a Press Conference given by Vassula who was to be named from then on “MAMA VASSULA. » She was assisted by Fr. Rolf, Ange, and many jouranlists from the local and national press. After the Press Conference, the group was invited for dinner by Msgr. Eduard MUNUNU with leaders of different Christian On the esplanade of the Kikwit Cathedral. denominations : Protestants, Orthodoxes, Roman Catholics and other denominations called “Eglises de réveil”.

On May 19th, at 10:00 am, Mama Vassula received a delegation from the Orthodox Church community, led by Fr. Charles GONZO. At 2:30 pm, the delegation went to the esplanade of the Cathedral, where a big crowd singing and dancing awaited « Mama Vassula. » Vassula was introduced by the Bishop with some welcoming words, followed by the presentation of « Mama Vassula » by Fr. Rolf. The presentation was translated into Kikongo, one of the national languages of RD Congo. Mama Vassula made two requests to the Kikwit population : 1) Pray so that the Lord helps the population to get out of misery; 2) Create, with the collaboration of people of good will, a Beth Myriam in Kikwit.

12 TRUE LIFE IN GOD At the foot of the plane, Msgr. Eduard MUNUNU and all the delegation The plane used to travel to Kikwit and accompanying him on to Kinshasa bade farewell to Mama Vassula who was going to Kinshasa, the last step of her 2nd visit to Congo.

The audience of 12-15,000 people

The big dinner that followed, organized by Senator MABAYA, ended this grace-filled day which will remain in the memory of the population of the Church of Kikwit.

The Bishop says good bye to Vassula

Visit to a school in surrounding Kikwit

The Kikwit mission ended beautifully on Wednesday, May 20th with an improvised visit to a monastery and to some seminaries that are known to be among the oldest in the country.

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 13 KINSHASA At this event, there were many other testimonies from people who were On May 20th, Wednesday, touched by the messages of True Life in in the early afternoon, the God. These testimonies will be gathered group arrived in Kinshasa in a document to be soon sent to the from Kikwit. After the wider TLIG commuity. welcoming ceremonies and airport formalties, Vassula and her group stayed in a hotel close to the Congo River. In the evening, at 8 Fr. Rolf and his hat from Kikwit pm, Mama Vassula was invited to meet the President of the Senate, Monsieur Léon Kengo Wa Dondo, who insisted on meeting her, so as to hear from Mama Vassula herself, all about the experience she lived through with Our Lord. Mr Kengo was marvelled by the witnessing of Mama Vassula and after hearing her testimony he then decided to read all the messages of True Life in God! On May 21st,Thursday, the conference that was supposed to take Witnessing of Senator Mabaya place at the Tâta Raphaël stadium at 2:30 pm was moved to 4:00 pm due to the heat. It was a working day, and offices close after 4:00 pm. A crowd estimated at more than 3000 people came to hear the messages.

On May 22nd, before taking her plane, Mama Vassula went to console a priest (Fr. Crispin), who was paralysed for many years due to a car accident.

Vassula and the President of the Senate

In the evening, at 8 :00 pm, a dinner was offered by the Organizing Committee of True Life in God RDC Association. Among In summary, the message of True Life in God is welcomed with the guests were Mr. great fervor in the Democratic Republic of Congo ; this includes Kengo Wa Dondo, the entire comprehensive population : religious, political President of the Senate autorities, all denominations... of the Democratic Ange Mungedi, TLIG National Contact, Lubumbashi, June 4, Republic of Congo and some members of his office. There were 2015, also some priests.

14 TRUE LIFE IN GOD A new Beth Myriam - Maui, Hawaii USA

Getting food ready for distrubution Sample Box of 10 meals

Daniel, Jeffrey, Patrick, Cowboy, Mark & Gunny thankful to receive meals

Jay speaking with several homeless men about TLIG Cowboy giving Daniel a meal Volenteers from left to right Sandy, Theresa, and Gods Love for them. Jay with Carol taking the photo

My wife and I have been avid readers of the TLIG messages for for True Life in God, the Beth Myriam was formally approved. We many years and attended the American TLIG Ecumenical Prayer mentioned this at the next prayer meeting and several other new Retreat in St. Louis Missouri in November of 2014. We were moved members volunteered to help us. Some would help prepare food by the Holy Spirit to strengthen our family’s devotion to the Two at their restaurant and others would deliver it. Four of us try to go Hearts into a real prayer group. We also invited more people to join out every week and order meals from a certified kitchen, pray and and form a prayer group. Seeing that more and more people are distribute them within a 2 hour period in the early evening so they becoming homeless in Maui, due to the very high cost of living and can get a hot meal. We use two cars to deliver the meals and along other reasons beyond their control, we felt moved that maybe we with the food, we occasionally give out Volume One of the TLIG could do a small part to help in their difficulties. We prayed about Messages, pamphlets and telling them of God’s Love for them. this for a few months and that God’s Will be done and we asked if The response has been gratifying and we know that the people He wanted us to be a part of this mission. that are served are grateful and know that God is with them. We continued to pray and also asked Georgia Klamson and Tim Some of them tell us their stories, some of them are veterans, and Maher about how the Beth Myriams were established all around others suffer from serious affliction and health problems. We even the world. Georgia sent us some video links and referred us to the come across some families who are now homeless. One person, International TLIG Beth Myriam for more info. Tim told us about when he was handed a book, said “I’ve heard of Vassula”. Others how a man in Los Angeles, before he passed away, used to do this mentioned that they are in need of clothes and items for hygiene. mission in California and encouraged us to do trial runs. After We are working on providing some of these items as well and watching the videos, I prayed and asked the Blessed Mother for looking for more support and donation from local community and guidance and the courage to do some trial runs, too. We went out vendors as well as the support we get from your donation, through a few times and saw how grateful the people were and how they the American Association TLIG, to our Beth Myriam. blessed for helping them. Thank you very much for any support you can give us and we feel We were inspired to begin and soon after we contacted Heidi that it is important to keep this mission going and to eventually Kyle who oversees the Beth Myriams worldwide and she told me expand it “God Willing”. to read the charter and see if the TLIG region in the USA would God Bless You, Jay begin to support this. After contacting the American Association

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 15 This is an original Limited Edition Giclée on Canvas Print, measuring 48” x 36” and is printed with pigmented inks strictly limited to 250 copies.

Each print is hand signed and authorized by the artist, Vassula Ryden as a faithful reproduction of the original oil painting. Vassula has personally inspected, numbered, approved and signed each print. No unsigned or unnumbered copies within the edition exist.

Fine materials are used to ensure long lasting beauty to protect your investment in fine art.

To properly care for your print on canvas, protect it from strong ultraviolet radiation such as direct sunlight.

Reproductions of the image you see may not be made. All rights to this image are fully retained by Vassula .

To reserve your Limited Edition Giclée Print on Canvas, send an email to Sara at [email protected] or call 1-816-461-8888. Price: $1,000.

or contact American Association for True Life in God [AATLIG] P. O. Box 4230, Independence, MO 64051, USA (There will be no copyright watermark on the Canvas you receive.)

Funds received for this Canvas are directed to the True Life in God Mission which supports the Beth Myriams, the Foundation for True Life in God, and the Greek Association covering retreats and sometimes air ticket expenses for countries that can’t pay for Vassula’s mission to these countries.

16 TRUE LIFE IN GOD Newly Published TLIG Messages

Vassula, the world today will try to take away your (plural) December freedom; today the world scorns all that is Holy, some2 claim 27, 2011 to have absolute knowledge of My Divinity, but the things they Lord, deliver us from are drawn to are nothing but a denial of Me; I was calling, but evil this coming year they denied and still deny that I am calling; the leaders of your and let Your Kingdom country are killing and stealing the bread from the children’s come and Your Reign mouth; they charge your nation and assault it as they please; encompass us; from every side they will rob you of the fruit of your labours; (allow Me to speak,) ...the people of your country have O Vassula! My taken the wrong path; Peace I give to you; I am known to have you are a land that I have blessed, but you have neglected to done great things, praise Me and extol Me; your shepherds who know nothing so trust Me; never go their own way, each after their own interest neglecting My © 2015 Vassula Ryden fail to pronounce fold, and silencing My Voice; they are following the way of this everything I have world; immersed in the passions of this world without hope given you; be patient with your persecutors and ah! what and without Me, your God; I had said then to My Father in Heaven is so very relevant My Word is something alive and active; it cuts like any double- for your times as well; I had reproached the towns in which edged sword but more finely;3 and yet in their night they failed I performed so many miracles and yet were not disposed to to believe that I have blessed you with spiritual graces; I have repent; you wonder why the clergy mistrust you and cannot been calling every soul to renew their mind by a spiritual see that these messages are My Work of Mercy, of who some revolution, so that they live in Me and I in them, but they even take pleasure to condemn you without a trial? You ask, failed to hear Me; I was calling them to give up their old way why are they not given the grace to believe, well, as I said then of life, but they gave their heart to their money saying: “with I say it today: “I bless You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, this I am self-sufficient;” and they have put Me out of their for hiding these things from the learned and the wise and mind day after day; revealing them to mere children; yes, Father, for that is what pleased You to do;” I have within Me both Mercy and Wrath; so look at the generations of old and see: they extolled Me and honoured the very jackals give the breast, and suckle their young: but the Me; these were an example of loyalty and gentleness, who daughters of My people have grown cruel, like the ostriches of glorified Me; the desert1; as for the young men, their faces are dark with sin; have you not read: “woe to the listless heart that has no faith, Vassula, listen and write: they plotted against you, and hunted for such will have no protection, woe to you who have lost you, but every wicked action, every slander they used against the will to endure; what will you do at the Lord’s visitation?”4 you will fall on their head; trust Me, stand your ground and hope in Me; you are not alone, I Am with you! in these days I mean to purge the lands of their apostasy, their passions and their sins that are lying now like hot coal I have favoured you amongst many, to speak in My Name; on their heads bearing the weight of their sins; and now I am kindness is upon you, and I encircled your head with a telling you: My Word will come true as in the past when I wreath of courage, of hope and of fidelity; see, I made you had forewarned you about your apostatized nations that the a witness to this evil generation, and Cyprus will grow in towers would crumble down and the waves of the seas will My Name and the wind will carry My Words far and wide; bring destruction shaking the earth out of its axis; these were gather nations, peoples of all kinds and let them hear My to be Signs for all of you, for when they happen you would messages; many more will come assembling and coming to know that I, God, have spoken; hear My messages; see? during these End of Times, My Spirit will be poured on all My Vassula, I will continue to gather My flock and as for you: humanity, even on those who scorned My Words in this Love loves you, stand in My Light, and put your hope in Me; ic Message, making fun of My Promise; ______as I said: My Word is alive and out of My Word, the same 1. 1 Lam. 4:3 Word, I formed the earth, and I tell you, I will purge this earth by flame and sorrow; when angels sinned I did not spare them; My Day will come upon you in an unexpected February 3, 2012 time; I will silence the fools; then from thereon you will live Most gracious Lord, bring us to repentance, or else our spirit will die;1 in My Will; the nations will see Me with different eyes; love and justice will reign once more, and violence will be heard peace to you My child; My Eyes, Vassula, penetrate into the no more; darkness of each soul; I suffer with thirst for souls;

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 17 Newly Published Messages (continued) today I am feeding My lambs in this way, and My Spirit is God, and I will quench your thirst; I Jesus Christ bless each bringing spiritual food to the poor, to bind up hearts that one of you; ic” are broken and remind them once more that - the Heart of keep Me Vassula secure in your heart and embellish My the Lord is all forgiveness, all love and tenderness; -- a Heart House; revive it and unite it; allow Me to direct you in this that can array you with His Glory, a Heart in which you can path for My Glory; I Am is with you always, daughter; ic find comfort; I bring salvation, to every open heart; and if ______today I reproached you, it is because of the greatness of the 1. message for Cyprus Love I have for you; My Heart is bleeding with sorrow to see this hour of darkness upon you, thrown in the mud of your sin; I will rescue you, only if you repent and return to Me; ic ______January 11, 2013 1. I was thinking of Greece and all the sufferings not only of our My Vassula, My Peace I give to you, as much as My blessings; nation but of the whole world of today do not leave the path that I laid out for you; 2. some of the clergy - are my actions wrong? 3. Heb:4:12 no, all I want to tell you is: peer into My Heart and supply 4. Si 2:13-14 yourself with the riches of My Heart; do not wear yourself out; the wealth of My Goodness and Mercy are in there, like purple vestments, royal and sovereign, so are My May 22, 2012 treasures; so do not doubt, the path I laid out for you has no My Peace I give you, My child; I have called you and formed blemishes; see? see how glorious are My Works? give your you to declare with power My Word and remind this strength to others who need it, encourage and console My generation that without Me, they are targets for Satan; vain people; be steadfast in this mission I have given you to exalt and deceptive he is known to be, and yet so many of them My Holy Name and keep reminding My people that I, like follow him blindly! the morning star among the clouds will appear allowing everyone to examine themself before My Judgment comes! Vassula, I am all Heart! pass on My Words to all of this generation and grieve not when those who do not want and on that day of My visitation some will find themselves to listen in their incredulity turn their backs to you... be acquitted, others will suffer for having ignored Me, and still zealous and remain in My Peace; others will feel the sting of an arrow; and others who have been challenging Me, rebelling against Me intentionally child of My Heart, delight always in My Presence, giving and disregarding My decrees, will suffer the pains of death; Me honour and glory;

1 ah Vassula! do not worry about those who are trying “ I am the Gateway of Hope where there is despair; of with frenzy to diminish and destroy My Works and My Joy where there is sorrow, of Consolation where there is Messages;... -- say it! affliction; I am the Gate of Life where there is death. I will speak to their heart, leading them out of their wilderness yes! Your Power is more powerful than all Hell put together! and with great tenderness I will attend My sheep; I shall absolutely! be in peace, bless My people and disregard My not be hard on them and I will listen to the lowly when they Enemy’s voice…the Deceiver; ic will ask for forgiveness; indeed many of you have forgotten My teaching, and have forgotten Me, yet, I have never forgotten you, although, Personal Message - February 21, 2013 ahh, so many of you have sinned against Me... come to Me and learn that I am the Good Shepherd; I am your My Peace I give to you, Vassula; befriend Me and be loyal to Me; powerful protection, your strong support who revives all love heals, it heals your sins, repeat after Me these words: your spirit and brightens your eyes; I give healing, life and “Glory be to God,” daughter, grant Me the favour to focus on blessings; I am All; Me, so that I enlighten your mind, your spirit and your heart; come to Me and speak to Me from your heart and I will daughter, you delight Me when you focus on Me and you have listen; turn your life into an unceasing prayer and delight felt the abundant love from Me filling your heart when you Me; pray, pray, pray and straighten your ways; strip do so; ah, Vassula, learn that I am by your side determined to yourselves clean through repentance and do not waste your protect you, to encourage you, to console you and give you hope; days anymore with earthly things that wear away, instead lean on Me, flower, let Me draw your steps closer to Me and turn your eyes on My Wealth that gives life; do all you can in Me; allow Me, Vassula ‘mou,’1 to use you for My plan, and to live holy and at peace with everyone; be perfect as your ‘mi stenakhoriesé, tha ta kanoniso ola egho; ella pethi mou; all Father in Heaven is perfect and your sins will no more Glory is Mine, daughter ‘aghapa-mé;’ ic dominate your life; live by grace a True Life in Me, your

18 TRUE LIFE IN GOD Newly Published Messages (continued) ______with the fear of the Lord in mind your services will take root 1. Greek translation: allow Me, My Vassula to use you for My plan, and in Me, for they will win people over to Me, whose minds, do not be sad, I will sort out (fix) everything Myself; come, My child; all the god of this world has blinded; concentrate on what has Glory is Mine, daughter love Me; been assigned you; do not distant yourself from Me; hear Me: the most important element that identifies grace is the development of the divine which occurs when My Holy May 15, 2013 Spirit touches you, generation; tell them, that My Spirit flees from a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a My love, Peace be with you; allow Me to speak to you in this heart that weaves wicked plots; from those who feel urged way; replenish your spirit with My Spirit; rejoice! for I Am to do evil, a false witness who lies with every breath, a man is with you; do not forget how I supply your spirit through who sows dissension among brothers; and I would add, Wisdom; all I ask from you is love, perseverance and those who take pleasure in doing their evil; indeed the man humility to accomplish My Works and the mission I have who gives voice to injustice will never go unnoticed by Me; entrusted you with; therefore, generation, do not come to Me in Judgment Day I will give a new splendour to My Church, wait and you shall and confront Me, your Maker with guilt; pray, pray, pray see! I will provide My Church and furnish it with power, and get rid of your guilt and do not spend all your energy healing it; My daughter,1 ahhh, My love, if you only knew in doing evil; I am ready to wash your guilt now! how Infinite My Love is for you, daughter! and how I Vassula, remember that your words will be reaching a feel at My entry in your heart! it is with song when I feel the carnal corrupt world and My Word many a time will be love you have for Me, a melody, that lasts, augmenting My suppressed by concupiscence that is born from the passions friendship with you; My city, I feel consoled and happy… of this world and is truly darkness; hear Me; you have, been through many trials and sacrifices, battles, even with those I called near you; learn that the blessed is the one who embraces Me, he will be transfigured only support will come from Me, and having the support and his soul will know gladness; from heaven to lift your spirit during those trials you will walk with care with Me; Love loves you and blesses you; ic feel consoled, renewed, to fight against these fiery battles ______of your time and against all falsehood declared on My Messages; and from those who boast of their knowledge 1. I felt Christ’s Flame of Love coming out of His Heart on mine! and discernment; 2. Ps. 24, 5-6 O my Strength, come quickly to my help, rescue my soul and my life from these ones! I tell you, leave those who belong to the world to Me; as for you, live holy, in peace and founded in My precepts; and remember: I anoint your head every single day - have you not read: “the blessing of Yahweh is his, and vindication from God his Saviour, such are the people who seek Him, who seek My Presence!2 oppressed by the enemy? thanks to them, Vassula, you gain the Kingdom of Heaven; so rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in Heaven! continue in the path I have laid out for you; path of integrity and loyalty, and when your oppressors threaten you with their evil acts, remember to come to Me to enjoy My sweetness for I am known to console your spirit when it is troubled; Here I am asking for counsel; I know that You, being on my side I shall fear nothing and I will get the best help of all; be My ambassador; for all you do in My Name will be as though I Myself were appealing through you, and the © 2015 Vassula Ryden appeal that you will do in My Name is: to be reconciled with Me, your God; this should be your theme to glorify Me; labouring for Me, your God, will lead you to sanctification; remain near Me, working with a spirit of holiness; and so,

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 19 Be One with Me - DVD

All those who went to Rhodes last year for the TLIG retreat I do hope that many readers of True Life in God Messages will probably remember well the impact of the news of Vassula’s visit want to see it. I have just been to Scotland and the ladies there to the Republic of Congo. The success were saying that the DVD was too long of it was so overwhelming that we all (89 minutes)! So, we have just finished stopped and asked ourselves how can working on it to set it into Chapters. we emulate Ange’s single handed effort? It is now 1 hr 25 minutes long and has Geraldine Hiller was sitting behind the following Chapters: Ange and asked him how he did it. He – Introduction to True Life in God chose one of the French DVDs, Vassula – Rebirth in the Holy Spirit and True in Marseille 2013, and with that travelled Life in God around the country. The outcome was – Unity in Humility and Love. fantastically successful. BUT what was important about the Marseille DVD May I add that the first showing was the sense of urgency which was in Luzmaria Buckland’s home in conveyed. If we do not change our Edinburgh to 4 ladies who had not hearts and desire Unity, another grave heard anything about the Messages event was going to happen. was a great success (in spite of it being so long – we stopped half way My French is non-existent so I have through for tea and cakes) and all 4 not watched that DVD. Geraldine and ladies wanted to read the Messages Regina Jackson watched it. Both were and would not leave until a firm date shaken up. Geraldine then sent out was made to meet again and start emails to see if anyone would respond praying together! and apparently, I was the only one who did respond. The initial idea was that PLEASE do use this DVD to evangelise we translate at least some of the French with. Please, ask the Holy Spirit to help DVD into English. It soon became clear you do it! The time is ever more urgent to me that for an English speaking audience the DVD was much that we reach out to those who the Lord calls to realise what a too long, and secondly the approach to True Life in God in the treasure the Messages are. French language seemed somewhat alien to the English culture Geraldine and I would be most grateful for any comments and especially the language. We, therefore, quickly decided to put you might have to share with us: has it been helpful to you to together our own compilation of Vassula’s speeches from all over evangelise with? Has your audience found it inspiring? Do you the world and combine that with the testimonies from priests, have personal testimonies which we could incorporate in a religious and lay people. companion DVD which we would like to produce so that a fuller As I mentioned above, we set off to work on this quickly. The picture of the wonder of the Messages can be shown to others? urgency that Geraldine felt was becoming our urgency as we began Please do keep in touch and let us know how we could help with to work, but we were not prepared to meet so many obstacles, your evangelisation effort. Could you help by translating this DVD delays and constant ‘disturbances’. Months went by and we were into other languages? With love in Christ, nowhere near even a proper start! Finally, we decided to meet and Ewa Allan (email: [email protected]) start praying in earnest every two weeks for two or three days at a time (Geraldine has a week off work every two weeks). It was only PS Here I would like to mention that Vassula suddenly came to London afterwards that we began to make some progress. for a couple of days in mid June. We managed to record a short piece with her and were astounded when coming home and listening to the recording The DVD has taken 10 months to come to fruition and the last afterwards, we heard her saying at the end: “be one with God”. We had changes, we thought, were finished at 1 am on 15th August! - The considered various titles for this DVD and had only just decided on “Be Feast of the Assumption! One with Me”! Praise, glory and thanks be to Our Triune God!

20 TRUE LIFE IN GOD It was as though I was Blind before and now I can See, or I was Deaf and now I can Hear!

A testimony from the USA - through Heaven is Real but so is Hell

My sister-in-law told me in July God the Father’s and Jesus’ and our Blessed Mother’s Messages 2014 that she read a book that to Vassula for the need to pray the Rosary I felt, were so strong changed her life. That book that I began to pray the Rosary every day. In the beginning, I was “Heaven Is Real But So Is experienced random moments of a heavy sadness where I would Hell”. Before that, I had always break into sobbing which sometimes scared me. I would also feel an considered myself a spiritual uncomfortable tightness in my stomach while praying the Rosary. person and I thought I believed Now when I go to Mass, the Scripture readings and the homily all in God, but I didn’t feel I was make sense to me. It was as though I was blind before and now I a Christian. My parents were can see, or I was deaf and now I can hear! I now understand why not religious and so we never I had those feelings of emptiness and a search for something that went to church, and then in was missing. All my life, I was searching for God and didn’t even my late 20’s, I was baptized in know it and He was calling me, but I couldn’t hear Him! a Catholic church. After that Less than a year ago, I didn’t believe in the divinity or importance we went to Mass occasionally of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary and now I do. I never read for Christmas and sometimes, the Bible before and now I do. I used to ignore homeless people Easter. As I was growing up I and now I feel the need to give them something without judging was filled with pretty much them. I used to say the Our Father and the Apostle’s Creed with everything I wanted. And I had a loving and supportive family. But just my lips and now I understand the words with my heart. I had somehow, I felt unsettled and I chose to leave home for boarding never talked to my son school at the age of 15, went to University and then lived in France about God, Jesus or our to learn French and paint for almost 3 years. I had to leave France Blessed Mother and because of a skiing accident that required knee surgery. Back home now we pray together I felt lost, still in search of something and a place to call home. and I understand how I tried living in New York and Los Angeles. I thought a person important it is to teach would fill that emptiness and so I got married, had one child and him God’s Word. I have then went through a bad divorce. read many different It wasn’t until my son was of the age to start preparing for his kinds of books and some First Communion that I decided to go to church every Sunday for were about God, but they his sake. But I still questioned the divinity of Jesus and felt little did not turn on the light connection. The Gospel readings didn’t mean much to me because for me as Heaven Is Real I never read the Bible. I had never said the Rosary and I didn’t know But So Is Hell and TLIG how to pray. After reading “Heaven Is Real But So Is Hell”, I felt did for me. something mixed with awe and fear, and wanted to read more of God Bless, God’s Messages. So I started to read TLIG. I struggled with many Janet Cho doubts in the beginning, but I kept reading. The more I read, the New York, USA more I believed and saw my life changing.

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 21 I experienced a most profound purification I was introduced to Jesus Christ’s messages of love by a a gift I will never forget! The next evening over 500 people friend at the end of 1994. Since then I have read all the True from four states showed up for Jesus’ messages of love Life in God volumes as they were published. I continue to through Vassula! I was so pleased, thankful, and amazed! read the daily messages posted online. That was Our Lord’s call and doing, certainly not ours. As a direct result, I felt very strongly to come home to the I was born and raised Episcopalian. In 1996 I was asked Catholic Church and was received into the Catholic Church if I would sponsor Vassula Ryden’s stop in Indianapolis, as on Saturday, August 9, 1997. she visited many cities in the USA to deliver Our Lord’s messages. I agreed to do so, even though I had never done Yours Faithfully in Christ, anything like it before. With the help of friends, we prepared Bruce W. Henderson for Vassula’s visit scheduled for Friday, November 15, 1996 9009 Cloud Bay Court and hoped, at best, to have 150 to 200 people attend. Indianapolis, Indiana 46236

The day and evening before, I experienced a most profound purification. I can’t describe it in this short writing, but such

w Uw Is that a cool story or what? It is the truth! I was going through a painful period in my life, coping with I quickly looked her up on the internet and found the three life changing events: a severe bodily injury with two True Life in God messages. I started to read them major surgeries, the loss of my mother and father, and the and purchased the book. My husband, a lukewarm loss of my job of thirty-three years. At times I felt it would Christian as well, never would read them. I can say be better to die, because of the physical and mental pain. with great conviction that my life now is dedicated to However, I decided to trust God even with all that happened God. I have a good deal of zeal for Him and our Blessed to me. Mother. I say the rosary daily and sometimes twice daily. We were going to a non-denominational Christian church Before this, I had left the Catholic Church and was not living and, to my amazement, my husband suggested we go to the the right type of life. My parents went to Mass daily. My Catholic Church. Now he wants to pray the rosary every day mother experienced a mystical marriage to the Lord, who with me and feels peace from it. When he misses praying appeared before her all aglow and placed a symbolic ring the rosary, he misses the peace. So he was indirectly drawn on her finger. She told me she would pray for me in Heaven. closer to God, even though he did not read the messages. My father made me a beautiful rosary, but I never used it. I This must be the work of the Holy Spirit. didn’t understand why people prayed to Mary. I believe the messages brought me into a closer relationship My mother mentioned Vassula to me one time probably with the Holy Trinity and the Blessed Mother, and to my twenty-eight years or so ago. I quickly forgot about this surprise, somehow my husband came along. Is that a cool conversation. This is where it gets interesting because the story or what? It is the truth! Holy Spirit is at work, no doubt in my mind of that. One day, out of the blue, I remembered the conversation but Jennifer Avilla not Vassula’s name. I tried to sound out her name and it 355 Lento Lane finally came to me. I believe it was through my parents’ El Cajon, Ca 92021 prayers and the Holy Spirit that her name came to mind. Any Correspondence Should Go To Po Box 21299 El Cajon, CA 92021

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22 TRUE LIFE IN GOD I learned to pray with my heart My Name is Hoori Melkonian. I am Armenian Orthodox. I lived that happens is a part of His plan. I learned the true meaning my life attending church for weddings, funerals, Christmas, of the Eucharist and started receiving it after confession every and Easter. I used to receive the Eucharist on Christmas and Sunday, along with some weekdays. Also, I started receiving Easter, without fully understanding the purpose. After reading Eucharist from the Catholic Church, as well as from my own the True Life in God messages, I started understanding church. I learned the Divine Mercy prayer, started going to Scripture and I learned about God’s love for me. I met my adoration, and started to read the Bible. Most importantly, the Father in heaven and His son Jesus Christ who died for me messages helped me return to church. and for my salvation. I also met His mother who I now know is my mother too. After reading the True Life in God messages and attending a pilgrimage, my life has a new meaning. I long for Jesus; I learned how to pray the rosary at first weekly, then daily, for thinking and talking about Him is what interests me most. a year. I learned to pray with my heart, not only my lips, and now I feel God’s presence when I pray. I now feel that I know Hoori Melkonian who my Creator is and I know that He loves me very much. 815 Saint Katherine Dr. I learned to trust God and follow His will because everything La Canada, CA

These messages opened the eyes of my soul When I first learned of the True Life in God messages Going to Mass seemed so dry; I felt as though my spiritual life and began to read them I was a bit cautious. However, I was sucked out of me. I now thank God for not abandoning remembered from Scripture how to tell a false prophet from a me, for rescuing me and reviving my soul through these true one. The true one will confess that Jesus, the Son of God messages. I have read all the volumes. Now Mass and the was born in the flesh and as I read the messages this was true. sacraments have much more meaning and I feel His presence Since Jesus reminded us of Scripture passages, I returned to within me. Praise be to Jesus Christ, God Almighty, the King reading the Bible, and I began to recognize the voice of Jesus of Glory, Praise His Holy Name! in the messages. It was the voice of God, the same voice I hear when I read Scriptures and as Scriptures tell us, my sheep God has also brought me into a deeper relationship with Him. know my voice. I now strive to live in the Divine Will of God our Father. It is a hard yet joyous road, and none of this would have been These messages opened the eyes of my soul. I discovered possible without my soul first being “awoken” through the them at a time when I felt so incredibly far from God, and True Life in God messages. yet I heard Him through the messages as though He spoke directly to me. Prior to this, I was searching for Him yet I C. Bahr felt that I could not see Him nor feel Him, nor hear Him let P O Box 2804 alone meditate on Him who seemed so far and so invisible and Truckee, CA unattainable. I went through the motions of being a Catholic. (530) 582-8690

EVANGELIZING IN DUBAI I was having ice cream at Godiva Dubai celebrating by myself a personal event and I was reading the single edition volume of the messages which was there with me on the table. When I ordered the bill, the guy asked me if it was the bible so I told him that it was a message from Jesus. Then I asked him if he was Christian because I can’t preach to Muslims - it’s illegal. He said yes and asked me if the book was for Christians. I said yes because it’s about the Unity of the Church. I told him about the website and I was writing down the website for him to check it online but I thought I better give him the book because he won’t read it online. So I did and he was very happy. Pray for him please. This was GOOD news from Dubai.. In Christ, Chadi Choufani

TLIG MAGAZINE ISSUE - 30 23 True Life in God The complete True Life in God messages (from 1986 - 2003) are available in a beautiful leather bound, 1150 page, book. The book can be ordered on the internet and supplied worldwide from: www.tligbuckingham.org.uk [email protected] +44 (0)750 3151271

The book is also available from:

AATLIG Salve Regina Books & Gifts TLIG Australia PO Box 413 236 West Portal Ave. #823, PO Box 856 East Amherst San Francisco Robina NY 14051 CA 94127 QLD 4226 USA USA Australia Tel: +1 816-461-8888 Tel: +1 (415) 989-6279 Tel: + (07) 5593 3373 [email protected] www.salvereginabooks.com [email protected]

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