October 14, 2024 • 28 mins
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a situation you knew wasn’t right, but felt powerless to leave, you’re going to relate to this episode.
Shirleen Smith faced the challenge of being addicted to a relationship that was not healthy. It almost cost her family, career and her relationship with God.
But through the foundation of faith since early childhood and choosing God above her personal needs, she not only found the strength to break free but also discovered a whole new purpose. That journey led her to a mission trip to Moldova, where her life was forever changed.
Shirleen's candid reflections serve as a powerful reminder that even when one strays, faith can be a guiding light back to purpose and fulfillment.
Her testimony of divine encounters in Moldova, and the pull to return, highlight the profound impact of presence and purpose in mission work.
Thanks for listening! Visit our website rfwma.org and follow us on Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/limitlessspiritpodcast/
and Instagram: @limitlessspiritpodcast
Help us make more inspiring episodes: https://rfwma.org/give-support-the-podcast/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Limitless Spirit, a weekly podcast with
host Helen Todd, where sheinterviews guests about pursuing
spiritual growth, discoveringlife's purpose through serving
others and developing a deeperfaith in Christ.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to Limitless Spirit, the podcast where we
explore stories oftransformation, purpose and
faith through the lens of theGreat Commission.
I'm your host, helen Todd, andtoday we have an incredibly
inspiring story to share withyou.
If you have ever found yourselfstuck in a situation you knew
(00:37):
wasn't right but felt powerlessto leave, you're going to relate
to today's guest to leave.
You're going to relate totoday's guest.
She's a woman who faced thechallenge of being addicted to a
relationship that was nothealthy, but through her faith
and reliance on God, she notonly found the strength to break
free, but also discovered awhole new purpose.
(00:59):
That journey led her to amission trip to Moldova, where
her life and her calling as anurse found a new purpose.
Whether you're seeking personalgrowth or feeling the call to
step into something bigger thanyourself, her story will
resonate deeply with you.
So let's dive in.
(01:19):
Hello Charlene, welcome toLimitless Spirit.
How are you today?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I'm good, I thank you .
Thank you for the opportunityto talk with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It is my pleasure.
I would love to talk to youabout how you came to know Jesus
.
You have quite an interestingstory.
I feel like every story isinteresting because not one is
the same, and so that's why oneof my favorite questions to ask
(01:52):
a fellow believer so how did ithappen for you?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, first of all, a Christian background.
Your father was a minister isthat right?
Parents that loved the Lord?
And then we went to church andmy sunny school and and we heard
the message of the lord and hissalvation.
And well, I was about 10 yearsold and I was walking down the
(02:18):
street from the church to ourhouse and I just had this just
great realization that I was asinner and that I needed to ask
the Lord for forgiveness and forhim to come be my savior.
And so I went home and told mymom and she said well, wait a
(02:42):
minute, let's get dad.
And so I had mom and dad both,and they walked me through the
simple steps of salvationbecause I already knew I was a
sinner.
So we went through the simplesteps and I accepted Jesus and
asked for forgiveness and I knewthat the Lord had sent Jesus to
(03:08):
die for our sins.
And so I count 10 years old asmy point of salvation.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
This is pretty awesome because I think
recognizing that you are asinner at that young of an age,
recognizing that you are asinner at that young of an age,
is an unusual experience.
And goodness, what kind of sinswere you carrying upon yourself
by the age of 10?
So do you remember whattriggered that?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
What particular thought or event triggered that
in you?
You know, I remember that I didsteal a little candy from a
checkout stand at a little toystore.
I remembered little things thatI knew were not.
I knew they were not right,they were not things I should be
doing, and I don't think aboutit a lot.
(04:02):
But if I thought about it, justlittle things, you know, maybe
I, maybe I lied, or maybe I justlittle things that the kids can
do of the Gospels since thatearly age.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That juxtaposition of failing short of the standard
spoke to you even at that age of10.
So since you accepted Jesus atthis young of an age, a lot of
(04:37):
times when we grow up in aChristian household and grow up
in church and do accept Christat a young age, there is a
period, a season in life whenyou drift away, normally in
young adulthood or teenage years.
So did that happen to you?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Oh yes, I'm sad to be part of the general crowd that
has a drift in their lives.
I suppose I've had a coupledrifts and that was very
disappointing to me.
That cause, see, his word isour guide and he gives those
(05:14):
commandments and his word for usto have a closer relationship
with him.
And if, if we're not looking tothat word and looking to him
and keeping him first, that'swhen we get in trouble.
If we drift away from somethinghe says, that he says it could
be that it's not a commandment,it's just it's drifting away
(05:37):
from his word, his message to us, for to have less sin in our
life and less pain and lessdisappointment to him and
ourselves.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So what would you say was the most difficult season
in your life, as you driftedaway from that truth?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Well, I think I'm actually thinking.
I think there was two, twoabout two seasons really of
drift.
Not that we don't do littledrifts, because the minute you
the devil is tricking you, thatthing that's tempting you or
that's, he's telling you thatthat, that is nothing, that is
(06:19):
nothing, that is, and I wouldcorrelate it to that.
That's just a little weed.
You know that's not, that'snothing big.
Would correlate it to that.
That's just a little weed, youknow that's not, that's nothing
big, you can do that.
But then then that weed growsand it buries its roots in our
lives and hearts and and itclouds our first relationship
(06:41):
with the Lord and it does notbecome good.
It starts threatening, you know, I mean it starts threatening
other relationships work, ittangles up your mind.
You're just not, you're notstraight on, you're not.
So you asked, like one of maybeone of the times, of the two
(07:04):
tires.
One time was well, I had fivechildren and I worked full time.
My husband did not have quitethe capacity or quite the income
, so we kind of switched rolesfor a while where he was the
stay-at-home mom and you worked.
(07:27):
Yeah, which was more than it isnow.
It was more against it in thepast.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It wasn't as acceptable as it is today.
Today it's common, but back inthose days it was very unusual.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, it was, and that's kind of showing my age,
but that's where you get if youdon't die, you get age.
So well, my work was veryentangling.
I worked at that time home,health and hospice, so I had a
lot of call during the night, alot of draws, and then I had my
(08:06):
five children and the financialstruggles and everything.
So I had actually drifted to arelationship that was more
important with the Lord, be itaddictions, substance or well,
(08:29):
this was an addiction torelationship and I had my in my
upgrowing.
My mom was very mentally ill andI was the oldest and they had a
lot of foster kids, because alot of dad would meet up in
homes where there was five kidsand the mom was dying and all
(08:50):
the husbands were gone, you know.
So they split the kids up inthe church and just so I and my
mom got overburdened and she hada family history of mental
illness.
She became very manic, verythree days up and three days
suicidal, and I was like acaregiver and at that same age
(09:13):
of 10, the Lord told me I was tobe a caregiver.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Which you, interestingly enough, carried
into your profession, becoming anurse and becoming a caregiver.
So you were living out thatcalling that God placed on your
life.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, yeah, he's so good, he kind of he lets us know
what he shows us are the giftshe's given us, he shows us the
talents, anyway.
So I had a kind of a gap in mymothering, I'd say, and I had to
learn, as many do, how toparent themselves, how to fill
(09:49):
that with the Lord, fill thatgap with the Lord.
So anyway, I had a relationshipthat was not pleasing to the
Lord, where I almost lost myfamily, you know, and almost
lost my job, and everybodythought I was something.
I'm really not and I wasn't't.
But the devil just kind of doesstuff.
(10:12):
So, long story short, this ishow the Lord helped me through
that and he showed me this thiswas wrong, it was very hurtful,
but it it was wrong.
You cannot have anybody abovethe Lord and, more importantly,
you cannot have any drug abovethe Lord or any kind of
(10:35):
computers.
Your electronics can come abovethe Lord.
I could name a whole list, butI know a whole list.
This was a real difficult timebecause I had strayed from
keeping the Lord.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So in other words, Charlene, you were living a
double life.
You, you were a mother of fivekids and a nurse, but you were
having an affair at the sametime.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Well, yeah, I guess you have to say that, but it
wasn't like um, it wasn't like asexual affair.
I mean, it was the relationshipaffair it was.
See, it just goes back and youmight not want this in there,
but it goes back to that lack ofthat mothering thing.
I mean, I can understand myself, I can understand all the
things, but to do somethingthat's out of line is, you know,
(11:23):
people can get away with itthat don't have a standard to
meet, that people don't expectthings of and that people don't
look up to.
I can say all sorts of things,but it was wrong to care about
her so much.
I was helping her too.
(11:46):
It was a gal that had just had adivorce, but that was probably
the biggest wrong impact in mylife, Probably one of the
biggest mistakes in my life.
Well, it wasn't a mistake.
I told my dad about it and hedidn't want me to tear myself up
(12:06):
about it.
I mean he could understand, heunderstood and but I mean you
still have to get out of it.
So when you have to get out ofsomething, you know whether it's
drugs and I help a lot of guysthat are on drugs and there's
steps to getting out of.
If you want to know, there'ssteps to getting out, of getting
out of something that you'vegotten into, you've gotten
(12:29):
tangled up in and the roots aredeep.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
We're going to focus on your story right now.
So what helped you so yourecognize that this was a
relationship that was unhealthyfor your life and for your
marriage?
What was the breaking pointwhen you realized that you have
to deal with it?
What helped you recognize?
Because our first step toovercoming something that is
(12:55):
unhealthy or maybe outside ofGod's will for our life is
recognizing that we have aproblem.
What was the moment that helpedyou realize that it was a
problem?
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Just that it was a big problem.
I mean that it was a problem,Just that it was a big problem.
I mean I knew I had to choosethe Lord first and my family.
So I talked to a few peoplethat understood the Lord puts
people in your life, that onpurpose, he orchestrates things.
I was talking to a couple ofmentor kind of people and I had
(13:29):
to get out of this relationship.
What?
I think the devil does issometimes the devil puts our
weak spots together with someoneelse in a weak spot.
If it's a relationship, I thinkhe puts weak spotted.
He puts we spotted peopletogether and if we don't stay in
(13:50):
tune with the Lord, then we canget sidelined.
So it just it wasn't going towork.
My family was praying barbedwire, barbed wire around me.
My family knew his mom and dadknew that she was too important.
(14:12):
So then I had to get out of itand I had to get tools to get
out of it and ultimately you canget out of things.
It takes time and you have tohave perseverance and at first
it's very, very often you'redealing with it.
But as you keep seeking theLord and seeking his face, even
(14:37):
though it's hard, and you reallydon't maybe want to break your,
break a relationship orsomething, you first have to
start with it's.
I need help with this and Ican't do it myself.
And then you just have to keepsteps and I I'd look up to the
(14:57):
sky and and I'd say I choose you, jesus, I, you know that's.
I just and I still still, oncein a while, do that too.
It's like I choose you, jesus,and I just look up into his
beautiful sky.
So, anyway, I'm over it.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Praise God.
It is interesting how things orpeople can become idolatry in
our lives.
Anything that takes theposition in our lives that
belongs to God is an idol.
Essentially, it could be things, it could be substance, it
could be a relationship, and yetGod has the power to help us
(15:42):
overcome.
And only he does because it'ssomething and only he does
because it's a trap that is veryhard to get out of, and your
story is yet one more exampleand testimony that you can.
It's not simple, it's neversimple, and I don't want to
minimize the difficulty ofovercoming that difficulty of
(16:13):
overcoming that.
But when we verbally andconsciously choose God, he
equips us and gives us strengthand perseverance, and that's
what I feel your testimony isabout.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yes, I totally agree.
He is our source.
All of our lives, whether we'rechildren or adolescents, or
adults or old adults, he is oursource.
We need him and he is there.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And again, what I hear in your story is the fact
that you received thatfoundation from your family
taking you to church as a child,teaching you the word of God as
a child.
It's like a mirror that exposessin in our lives.
Whether it was little thingswhen you were at the age of 10,
or this significant strongholdthat you experienced later in
(17:00):
life, you had the standard ofwhat you should aspire towards
that inevitably reflected backto you anything that was not
measuring up to that standard.
So I feel like you know it'ssuch an inspiration to pour into
kids before the age they canconsciously understand.
(17:23):
This is something that builds afoundation in them that will
carry them through life.
So my question then is at whatpoint in your life you felt the
calling towards missions, andwhat was that call that
connected you with WorldMissions Alliance?
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Well, I have been on missions, medical missions, for
a lot of years, different years,with the military and with
other groups, and I went with agroup to Mexico in November of
the year before Moldova, and Iwas so disappointed with the
(18:05):
focus or, you know, justdisappointed with the or the
Lord wasn't in it.
You know that it was justdisappointing.
And with the big invasion ofUkraine with Russia, I I was
wanting to go help refugees fromUkraine, ukraine and, and I've
(18:28):
been on the internet looking forgroups and found a lot of
groups, but the Lord led me tothe WMA and I I found the
mission to Moldova and that wasclose to Ukraine and you know,
of course, loving the Lord anddesiring to serve him, of course
(18:51):
, loving the Lord and desiringto serve Him, desiring to help
others to the Lord, and so Ithink it was a great match.
The awesomeness of the Moldovaexperience was the.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Well, before we go into that, let me ask you did
you know a whole lot aboutMoldova?
I mean, you knew it was closeto Ukraine, but what did you
know about it before you went?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Well, I did read up on it.
It's close to Russia too.
That section on the east sideis occupied by Russians.
There's a big political drivetowards democracy.
I like the fact that they andyou can take this out if you
want I like the fact that theyare trying to be in a democracy
(19:35):
that's so different than a likea communistic kind of way of
life or socialistic or any ofthose.
But I think one of the biggestfactors is the closeness to
Ukraine, and they do have.
I saw that they had Ukrainerefugees and there wasn't much
(19:56):
out there that showed me how Icould get there, to get close to
Ukraine, to help the refugeesin a capacity as a Christian.
I mean I could get there inother capacities, but it just
(20:20):
stood out as a perfectopportunity to serve people
there.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Does that.
And so what was your?
Was this, your remind me?
Was this your first missionwith World Missions Alliance?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yes, and it was very impressive.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, so it was so impactful for you that you are
signed up to go back to Moldovawith World Missions Alliance
next year.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
So let's talk about some of the most memorable
moments, or some of the mostimpactful experiences for you To
be honest, the group ofChristians that the Lord sent
that trip were just bless myheart, just bless my life.
The Lord sent prayer people,the Lord sent people to work
(21:05):
with the children.
I mean he just sent a perfectgroup to meet the needs that we
were looking at, that WMA waslooking at in Moldova, and he
just sent the greatest blessingwith the group of Christian
people.
I was just so impressed.
The fellowship was justwonderful.
(21:28):
The freedom, it was justbeautiful.
How the people worked together,providers worked together, the
people leading the children.
Moldova was extremelyimpressive to me too.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Were there, some things that surprised you when
you actually visited Moldova.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
One thing that really surprised me is and really
impressed me was how the Lordplanned meetings of group,
meeting with the group and withpeople from Moldova.
He actually he sent a young manfrom Moldova.
(22:11):
He actually sent a young manaround the lake.
He told that young man to walkaround the lake and he would
meet up with some people thatcould help him in the ways of
his spiritual needs.
And I was with a translatorthat had a deep love for the
Lord and a deep translationcapacity and it was just a
blessing to meet up with thatyoung man and to hear his story
(22:34):
that he had been sent by theLord to meet up with people that
loved him, the Lord, and wantedto share him with anybody,
everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
That's a great story, because this is, I feel, so
often happens on the missiontrip, when you actually feel
called by God to be on thisparticular mission in this
particular country at this verytime, and he connects you with
the people that are literallywaiting for you to come and
(23:12):
minister to them.
This young man.
As you happen to be in the park, walking around the lake with
your interpreter, god broughtthis young man that was seeking
for spiritual guidance and yourpaths crossed.
You were obedient enough tostart the conversation.
He was obedient enough toconfide in you that he has been
(23:34):
looking for something, lookingfor help, and then what I call
the magic happens.
You know, the Lord does histhing, and so I love these
stories.
We tend to focus on the numbers.
You know how many peoplereceived Jesus or how many
people were treated in themedical clinic, but if it were
just for that one young man,wouldn't it be completely worth
(23:58):
it?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Yes, but it wasn't just that one young man, because
there was more blessings in themedical clinic and one of your
other leaders was there and Ijust couldn't believe the
blessings of the people comingthrough the medical clinic and
the staff that was in placecould address and talk the
(24:23):
spiritual concerns as well asthe physical, the spiritual
concerns as well as the physical, and actually see we were going
into a country actually and achurch that was in two locations
.
The people needed the Lordthere.
They'd looked for the Lordthere because their spiritual,
the spiritual background of thecountry and the spiritual
(24:46):
opportunities are not really apersonal relationship with the
Lord.
They just came back to theworship times and they were just
so blessed with the connectionsthat the Lord had orchestrated
and it was just a blessing tosee the people blessed.
So it's a blessing.
(25:07):
The team was a blessing, theMoldovan people were a blessing
and their desire to worship,learn about serve the Lord.
It was just a totally awesomeexperience.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Well, since then, you have been on several missions
with World Missions Alliance todifferent countries, to Pakistan
and Republic of Georgia, andyet you feel the call to return
to Moldova.
Yes, what is it that is drawingyou back to the country?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
I know I've seen other countries that seek to
know about the Lord and see ifthe people are, you know,
yearning for a real life, a reallife of peace and forgiveness
and everything.
But Moldova was.
The people were just sointerested in the things of the
(26:01):
Lord and the leadership in thechurches, the whole family was
involved and they are justblessed with musical talent, and
I mean the whole experience isone that you should do once in
your life.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
In the end, I think that it is always God that
places that desire anddetermines the timing.
Desire and determines thetiming.
Just like you mentioned yourfirst experience there of
connecting with this young manthat was walking around the park
, because God led him there,perhaps there is another person
(26:40):
there, charlene, who can benefitfrom your experience with the
Lord, from your testimony, whichis really your greatest weapon.
You are a fantastic nurse, youare a very caring and nurturing
and compassionate person, but Ibelieve that your personal
experience with the Lord, yourtestimony, is what makes you so
(27:01):
effective on the mission field.
You know firsthand what God hasdone in your life and no one
can take this experience awayfrom you, no matter how painful
it is.
It is your victory, and yourvictory, your story, is your
greatest evangelistic tool onthe mission field, and so it is
(27:21):
a great pleasure for us to haveyou as part of the World
Missions Alliance family and andwe look forward to being with
you in Moldova and othermissions that God has led you on
with World Missions Alliance.
Thank you, helen.
As we wrap today's episode, Ihope you were as moved as I was
(27:46):
by Charlene's journey from aplace of emotional dependency to
spiritual freedom andultimately stepping out in faith
on a mission trip to Moldova.
This is a powerful reminder that, no matter what we're facing,
god can use it to redirect ourlives towards his greater
purpose.
If you're feeling that nudge togrow in your faith or maybe
(28:10):
step into something new, like amission trip, perhaps even to
Moldova, let this be anencouragement to you.
God is always ready to meet uswhere we are and take us where
we need to go.
I invite you to check ourwebsite, rfwmaorg, and look for
(28:31):
the opportunities for you tofulfill the Great Commission.
You don't have to be perfect.
If you choose Jesus to be yourLord and Savior, he equips you
to be His ambassador.
Again, the website is rfwmaorgand we are returning to Moldova
(28:51):
in the May of next year, so weinvite you to join us.
Thank you for tuning in toLimitless Spirit.
Until next time, may youcontinue to live out your
purpose and walk in faith.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I'm Helen Todd.
Limitless Spirit Podcast isproduced by World Missions
Alliance.
We believe that changed liveschange lives.
If your life was transformed byChrist, you are equipped to
help others experience thistransformation.
Christ called his followers tomake disciples across the world.
(29:25):
World Missions Alliance givesyou an opportunity to do this
through short-term missions inover 32 countries across the
globe.
If you want to help those whoare hurting and hopeless and
discover your greater purpose inserving, check out our website
rfwmaorg and find out how to getinvolved.
Welcome to Limitless Spirit, a weekly podcast with
host Helen Todd, where sheinterviews guests about pursuing
spiritual growth, discoveringlife's purpose through serving
others and developing a deeperfaith in Christ.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to Limitless Spirit, the podcast where we
explore stories oftransformation, purpose and
faith through the lens of theGreat Commission.
I'm your host, helen Todd, andtoday we have an incredibly
inspiring story to share withyou.
If you have ever found yourselfstuck in a situation you knew
(00:37):
wasn't right but felt powerlessto leave, you're going to relate
to today's guest to leave.
You're going to relate totoday's guest.
She's a woman who faced thechallenge of being addicted to a
relationship that was nothealthy, but through her faith
and reliance on God, she notonly found the strength to break
free, but also discovered awhole new purpose.
(00:59):
That journey led her to amission trip to Moldova, where
her life and her calling as anurse found a new purpose.
Whether you're seeking personalgrowth or feeling the call to
step into something bigger thanyourself, her story will
resonate deeply with you.
So let's dive in.
(01:19):
Hello Charlene, welcome toLimitless Spirit.
How are you today?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I'm good, I thank you .
Thank you for the opportunityto talk with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It is my pleasure.
I would love to talk to youabout how you came to know Jesus
.
You have quite an interestingstory.
I feel like every story isinteresting because not one is
the same, and so that's why oneof my favorite questions to ask
(01:52):
a fellow believer so how did ithappen for you?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, first of all, a Christian background.
Your father was a minister isthat right?
Parents that loved the Lord?
And then we went to church andmy sunny school and and we heard
the message of the lord and hissalvation.
And well, I was about 10 yearsold and I was walking down the
(02:18):
street from the church to ourhouse and I just had this just
great realization that I was asinner and that I needed to ask
the Lord for forgiveness and forhim to come be my savior.
And so I went home and told mymom and she said well, wait a
(02:42):
minute, let's get dad.
And so I had mom and dad both,and they walked me through the
simple steps of salvationbecause I already knew I was a
sinner.
So we went through the simplesteps and I accepted Jesus and
asked for forgiveness and I knewthat the Lord had sent Jesus to
(03:08):
die for our sins.
And so I count 10 years old asmy point of salvation.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
This is pretty awesome because I think
recognizing that you are asinner at that young of an age,
recognizing that you are asinner at that young of an age,
is an unusual experience.
And goodness, what kind of sinswere you carrying upon yourself
by the age of 10?
So do you remember whattriggered that?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
What particular thought or event triggered that
in you?
You know, I remember that I didsteal a little candy from a
checkout stand at a little toystore.
I remembered little things thatI knew were not.
I knew they were not right,they were not things I should be
doing, and I don't think aboutit a lot.
(04:02):
But if I thought about it, justlittle things, you know, maybe
I, maybe I lied, or maybe I justlittle things that the kids can
do of the Gospels since thatearly age.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That juxtaposition of failing short of the standard
spoke to you even at that age of10.
So since you accepted Jesus atthis young of an age, a lot of
(04:37):
times when we grow up in aChristian household and grow up
in church and do accept Christat a young age, there is a
period, a season in life whenyou drift away, normally in
young adulthood or teenage years.
So did that happen to you?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Oh yes, I'm sad to be part of the general crowd that
has a drift in their lives.
I suppose I've had a coupledrifts and that was very
disappointing to me.
That cause, see, his word isour guide and he gives those
(05:14):
commandments and his word for usto have a closer relationship
with him.
And if, if we're not looking tothat word and looking to him
and keeping him first, that'swhen we get in trouble.
If we drift away from somethinghe says, that he says it could
be that it's not a commandment,it's just it's drifting away
(05:37):
from his word, his message to us, for to have less sin in our
life and less pain and lessdisappointment to him and
ourselves.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So what would you say was the most difficult season
in your life, as you driftedaway from that truth?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Well, I think I'm actually thinking.
I think there was two, twoabout two seasons really of
drift.
Not that we don't do littledrifts, because the minute you
the devil is tricking you, thatthing that's tempting you or
that's, he's telling you thatthat, that is nothing, that is
(06:19):
nothing, that is, and I wouldcorrelate it to that.
That's just a little weed.
You know that's not, that'snothing big.
Would correlate it to that.
That's just a little weed, youknow that's not, that's nothing
big, you can do that.
But then then that weed growsand it buries its roots in our
lives and hearts and and itclouds our first relationship
(06:41):
with the Lord and it does notbecome good.
It starts threatening, you know, I mean it starts threatening
other relationships work, ittangles up your mind.
You're just not, you're notstraight on, you're not.
So you asked, like one of maybeone of the times, of the two
(07:04):
tires.
One time was well, I had fivechildren and I worked full time.
My husband did not have quitethe capacity or quite the income
, so we kind of switched rolesfor a while where he was the
stay-at-home mom and you worked.
(07:27):
Yeah, which was more than it isnow.
It was more against it in thepast.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It wasn't as acceptable as it is today.
Today it's common, but back inthose days it was very unusual.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, it was, and that's kind of showing my age,
but that's where you get if youdon't die, you get age.
So well, my work was veryentangling.
I worked at that time home,health and hospice, so I had a
lot of call during the night, alot of draws, and then I had my
(08:06):
five children and the financialstruggles and everything.
So I had actually drifted to arelationship that was more
important with the Lord, be itaddictions, substance or well,
(08:29):
this was an addiction torelationship and I had my in my
upgrowing.
My mom was very mentally ill andI was the oldest and they had a
lot of foster kids, because alot of dad would meet up in
homes where there was five kidsand the mom was dying and all
(08:50):
the husbands were gone, you know.
So they split the kids up inthe church and just so I and my
mom got overburdened and she hada family history of mental
illness.
She became very manic, verythree days up and three days
suicidal, and I was like acaregiver and at that same age
(09:13):
of 10, the Lord told me I was tobe a caregiver.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Which you, interestingly enough, carried
into your profession, becoming anurse and becoming a caregiver.
So you were living out thatcalling that God placed on your
life.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, yeah, he's so good, he kind of he lets us know
what he shows us are the giftshe's given us, he shows us the
talents, anyway.
So I had a kind of a gap in mymothering, I'd say, and I had to
learn, as many do, how toparent themselves, how to fill
(09:49):
that with the Lord, fill thatgap with the Lord.
So anyway, I had a relationshipthat was not pleasing to the
Lord, where I almost lost myfamily, you know, and almost
lost my job, and everybodythought I was something.
I'm really not and I wasn't't.
But the devil just kind of doesstuff.
(10:12):
So, long story short, this ishow the Lord helped me through
that and he showed me this thiswas wrong, it was very hurtful,
but it it was wrong.
You cannot have anybody abovethe Lord and, more importantly,
you cannot have any drug abovethe Lord or any kind of
(10:35):
computers.
Your electronics can come abovethe Lord.
I could name a whole list, butI know a whole list.
This was a real difficult timebecause I had strayed from
keeping the Lord.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So in other words, Charlene, you were living a
double life.
You, you were a mother of fivekids and a nurse, but you were
having an affair at the sametime.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Well, yeah, I guess you have to say that, but it
wasn't like um, it wasn't like asexual affair.
I mean, it was the relationshipaffair it was.
See, it just goes back and youmight not want this in there,
but it goes back to that lack ofthat mothering thing.
I mean, I can understand myself, I can understand all the
things, but to do somethingthat's out of line is, you know,
(11:23):
people can get away with itthat don't have a standard to
meet, that people don't expectthings of and that people don't
look up to.
I can say all sorts of things,but it was wrong to care about
her so much.
I was helping her too.
(11:46):
It was a gal that had just had adivorce, but that was probably
the biggest wrong impact in mylife, Probably one of the
biggest mistakes in my life.
Well, it wasn't a mistake.
I told my dad about it and hedidn't want me to tear myself up
(12:06):
about it.
I mean he could understand, heunderstood and but I mean you
still have to get out of it.
So when you have to get out ofsomething, you know whether it's
drugs and I help a lot of guysthat are on drugs and there's
steps to getting out of.
If you want to know, there'ssteps to getting out, of getting
out of something that you'vegotten into, you've gotten
(12:29):
tangled up in and the roots aredeep.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
We're going to focus on your story right now.
So what helped you so yourecognize that this was a
relationship that was unhealthyfor your life and for your
marriage?
What was the breaking pointwhen you realized that you have
to deal with it?
What helped you recognize?
Because our first step toovercoming something that is
(12:55):
unhealthy or maybe outside ofGod's will for our life is
recognizing that we have aproblem.
What was the moment that helpedyou realize that it was a
problem?
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Just that it was a big problem.
I mean that it was a problem,Just that it was a big problem.
I mean I knew I had to choosethe Lord first and my family.
So I talked to a few peoplethat understood the Lord puts
people in your life, that onpurpose, he orchestrates things.
I was talking to a couple ofmentor kind of people and I had
(13:29):
to get out of this relationship.
What?
I think the devil does issometimes the devil puts our
weak spots together with someoneelse in a weak spot.
If it's a relationship, I thinkhe puts weak spotted.
He puts we spotted peopletogether and if we don't stay in
(13:50):
tune with the Lord, then we canget sidelined.
So it just it wasn't going towork.
My family was praying barbedwire, barbed wire around me.
My family knew his mom and dadknew that she was too important.
(14:12):
So then I had to get out of itand I had to get tools to get
out of it and ultimately you canget out of things.
It takes time and you have tohave perseverance and at first
it's very, very often you'redealing with it.
But as you keep seeking theLord and seeking his face, even
(14:37):
though it's hard, and you reallydon't maybe want to break your,
break a relationship orsomething, you first have to
start with it's.
I need help with this and Ican't do it myself.
And then you just have to keepsteps and I I'd look up to the
(14:57):
sky and and I'd say I choose you, jesus, I, you know that's.
I just and I still still, oncein a while, do that too.
It's like I choose you, jesus,and I just look up into his
beautiful sky.
So, anyway, I'm over it.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Praise God.
It is interesting how things orpeople can become idolatry in
our lives.
Anything that takes theposition in our lives that
belongs to God is an idol.
Essentially, it could be things, it could be substance, it
could be a relationship, and yetGod has the power to help us
(15:42):
overcome.
And only he does because it'ssomething and only he does
because it's a trap that is veryhard to get out of, and your
story is yet one more exampleand testimony that you can.
It's not simple, it's neversimple, and I don't want to
minimize the difficulty ofovercoming that difficulty of
(16:13):
overcoming that.
But when we verbally andconsciously choose God, he
equips us and gives us strengthand perseverance, and that's
what I feel your testimony isabout.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yes, I totally agree.
He is our source.
All of our lives, whether we'rechildren or adolescents, or
adults or old adults, he is oursource.
We need him and he is there.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And again, what I hear in your story is the fact
that you received thatfoundation from your family
taking you to church as a child,teaching you the word of God as
a child.
It's like a mirror that exposessin in our lives.
Whether it was little thingswhen you were at the age of 10,
or this significant strongholdthat you experienced later in
(17:00):
life, you had the standard ofwhat you should aspire towards
that inevitably reflected backto you anything that was not
measuring up to that standard.
So I feel like you know it'ssuch an inspiration to pour into
kids before the age they canconsciously understand.
(17:23):
This is something that builds afoundation in them that will
carry them through life.
So my question then is at whatpoint in your life you felt the
calling towards missions, andwhat was that call that
connected you with WorldMissions Alliance?
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Well, I have been on missions, medical missions, for
a lot of years, different years,with the military and with
other groups, and I went with agroup to Mexico in November of
the year before Moldova, and Iwas so disappointed with the
(18:05):
focus or, you know, justdisappointed with the or the
Lord wasn't in it.
You know that it was justdisappointing.
And with the big invasion ofUkraine with Russia, I I was
wanting to go help refugees fromUkraine, ukraine and, and I've
(18:28):
been on the internet looking forgroups and found a lot of
groups, but the Lord led me tothe WMA and I I found the
mission to Moldova and that wasclose to Ukraine and you know,
of course, loving the Lord anddesiring to serve him, of course
(18:51):
, loving the Lord and desiringto serve Him, desiring to help
others to the Lord, and so Ithink it was a great match.
The awesomeness of the Moldovaexperience was the.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Well, before we go into that, let me ask you did
you know a whole lot aboutMoldova?
I mean, you knew it was closeto Ukraine, but what did you
know about it before you went?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Well, I did read up on it.
It's close to Russia too.
That section on the east sideis occupied by Russians.
There's a big political drivetowards democracy.
I like the fact that they andyou can take this out if you
want I like the fact that theyare trying to be in a democracy
(19:35):
that's so different than a likea communistic kind of way of
life or socialistic or any ofthose.
But I think one of the biggestfactors is the closeness to
Ukraine, and they do have.
I saw that they had Ukrainerefugees and there wasn't much
(19:56):
out there that showed me how Icould get there, to get close to
Ukraine, to help the refugeesin a capacity as a Christian.
I mean I could get there inother capacities, but it just
(20:20):
stood out as a perfectopportunity to serve people
there.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Does that.
And so what was your?
Was this, your remind me?
Was this your first missionwith World Missions Alliance?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yes, and it was very impressive.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, so it was so impactful for you that you are
signed up to go back to Moldovawith World Missions Alliance
next year.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
So let's talk about some of the most memorable
moments, or some of the mostimpactful experiences for you To
be honest, the group ofChristians that the Lord sent
that trip were just bless myheart, just bless my life.
The Lord sent prayer people,the Lord sent people to work
(21:05):
with the children.
I mean he just sent a perfectgroup to meet the needs that we
were looking at, that WMA waslooking at in Moldova, and he
just sent the greatest blessingwith the group of Christian
people.
I was just so impressed.
The fellowship was justwonderful.
(21:28):
The freedom, it was justbeautiful.
How the people worked together,providers worked together, the
people leading the children.
Moldova was extremelyimpressive to me too.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Were there, some things that surprised you when
you actually visited Moldova.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
One thing that really surprised me is and really
impressed me was how the Lordplanned meetings of group,
meeting with the group and withpeople from Moldova.
He actually he sent a young manfrom Moldova.
(22:11):
He actually sent a young manaround the lake.
He told that young man to walkaround the lake and he would
meet up with some people thatcould help him in the ways of
his spiritual needs.
And I was with a translatorthat had a deep love for the
Lord and a deep translationcapacity and it was just a
blessing to meet up with thatyoung man and to hear his story
(22:34):
that he had been sent by theLord to meet up with people that
loved him, the Lord, and wantedto share him with anybody,
everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
That's a great story, because this is, I feel, so
often happens on the missiontrip, when you actually feel
called by God to be on thisparticular mission in this
particular country at this verytime, and he connects you with
the people that are literallywaiting for you to come and
(23:12):
minister to them.
This young man.
As you happen to be in the park, walking around the lake with
your interpreter, god broughtthis young man that was seeking
for spiritual guidance and yourpaths crossed.
You were obedient enough tostart the conversation.
He was obedient enough toconfide in you that he has been
(23:34):
looking for something, lookingfor help, and then what I call
the magic happens.
You know, the Lord does histhing, and so I love these
stories.
We tend to focus on the numbers.
You know how many peoplereceived Jesus or how many
people were treated in themedical clinic, but if it were
just for that one young man,wouldn't it be completely worth
(23:58):
it?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Yes, but it wasn't just that one young man, because
there was more blessings in themedical clinic and one of your
other leaders was there and Ijust couldn't believe the
blessings of the people comingthrough the medical clinic and
the staff that was in placecould address and talk the
(24:23):
spiritual concerns as well asthe physical, the spiritual
concerns as well as the physical, and actually see we were going
into a country actually and achurch that was in two locations
.
The people needed the Lordthere.
They'd looked for the Lordthere because their spiritual,
the spiritual background of thecountry and the spiritual
(24:46):
opportunities are not really apersonal relationship with the
Lord.
They just came back to theworship times and they were just
so blessed with the connectionsthat the Lord had orchestrated
and it was just a blessing tosee the people blessed.
So it's a blessing.
(25:07):
The team was a blessing, theMoldovan people were a blessing
and their desire to worship,learn about serve the Lord.
It was just a totally awesomeexperience.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Well, since then, you have been on several missions
with World Missions Alliance todifferent countries, to Pakistan
and Republic of Georgia, andyet you feel the call to return
to Moldova.
Yes, what is it that is drawingyou back to the country?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
I know I've seen other countries that seek to
know about the Lord and see ifthe people are, you know,
yearning for a real life, a reallife of peace and forgiveness
and everything.
But Moldova was.
The people were just sointerested in the things of the
(26:01):
Lord and the leadership in thechurches, the whole family was
involved and they are justblessed with musical talent, and
I mean the whole experience isone that you should do once in
your life.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
In the end, I think that it is always God that
places that desire anddetermines the timing.
Desire and determines thetiming.
Just like you mentioned yourfirst experience there of
connecting with this young manthat was walking around the park
, because God led him there,perhaps there is another person
(26:40):
there, charlene, who can benefitfrom your experience with the
Lord, from your testimony, whichis really your greatest weapon.
You are a fantastic nurse, youare a very caring and nurturing
and compassionate person, but Ibelieve that your personal
experience with the Lord, yourtestimony, is what makes you so
(27:01):
effective on the mission field.
You know firsthand what God hasdone in your life and no one
can take this experience awayfrom you, no matter how painful
it is.
It is your victory, and yourvictory, your story, is your
greatest evangelistic tool onthe mission field, and so it is
(27:21):
a great pleasure for us to haveyou as part of the World
Missions Alliance family and andwe look forward to being with
you in Moldova and othermissions that God has led you on
with World Missions Alliance.
Thank you, helen.
As we wrap today's episode, Ihope you were as moved as I was
(27:46):
by Charlene's journey from aplace of emotional dependency to
spiritual freedom andultimately stepping out in faith
on a mission trip to Moldova.
This is a powerful reminder that, no matter what we're facing,
god can use it to redirect ourlives towards his greater
purpose.
If you're feeling that nudge togrow in your faith or maybe
(28:10):
step into something new, like amission trip, perhaps even to
Moldova, let this be anencouragement to you.
God is always ready to meet uswhere we are and take us where
we need to go.
I invite you to check ourwebsite, rfwmaorg, and look for
(28:31):
the opportunities for you tofulfill the Great Commission.
You don't have to be perfect.
If you choose Jesus to be yourLord and Savior, he equips you
to be His ambassador.
Again, the website is rfwmaorgand we are returning to Moldova
(28:51):
in the May of next year, so weinvite you to join us.
Thank you for tuning in toLimitless Spirit.
Until next time, may youcontinue to live out your
purpose and walk in faith.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I'm Helen Todd.
Limitless Spirit Podcast isproduced by World Missions
Alliance.
We believe that changed liveschange lives.
If your life was transformed byChrist, you are equipped to
help others experience thistransformation.
Christ called his followers tomake disciples across the world.
(29:25):
World Missions Alliance givesyou an opportunity to do this
through short-term missions inover 32 countries across the
globe.
If you want to help those whoare hurting and hopeless and
discover your greater purpose inserving, check out our website
rfwmaorg and find out how to getinvolved.
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