1 Timothy 1
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Gerhard has a wonderful testimony. Dedication, diligence and discipline were three points that were particularly highlighted in his notebook, and these points were visible in his life.
Many years ago, before Gerhard’s conversion in 1976, his aunt, tante Louise, came to KwaSizabantu and said that her nephew, Gerhard, was very sick. He had, what is commonly called “Yappi-flu” and diabetes, and his health was very bad. She asked if I could visit him when I was in Pretoria or Johannesburg. I asked if he couldn’t come to KwaSizabantu rather. She said he won’t come, but maybe, after I had a talk with him, I’ll win his confidence and he’ll come. After a while I went to Krugersdorp, notified Gerhard that I was there, and he came. We chatted about wind and weather and I invited him.
Not long afterwards I received a phone call from his parents asking if he’d arrived at the mission, as he’d left 4 days ago already. He hadn’t arrived, and they were very troubled, but very late that day he did arrive. He told me later how he didn’t had the nerve to come to the mission, so as he got to Van Reenen’s Pass, he entered a motel, had quite a number of beers and slept there. The next day he came to Greytown, entered a hotel there, drank a lot of beer and spent the night there. As he came to the gate of the mission, he didn’t had the nerve to come in, so he passed, and repeated his previous two night’s actions at a hotel in Stanger, and spent the night there. He only arrived at the mission late that day. I showed him his room at my house and asked him to make himself at home. He was very depressed. He entered his room and stayed there for 2 weeks. Tante Louise arrived and asked me not to let him go to wreck and ruin, but to force him to come out and do something. However, I didn’t force him. He stayed in his room for another week, and then one day, while we were in the dining room, Gerhard came in, all smiles and happy. He asked whether I had some work for him to do. I thought it would be good to take his thoughts away from his mind, so I asked him if he would be prepared take a pick and shovel and dig pools for the trout we were farming with. He was very happy to do this
Then he told me what had happened. The last few days of those 3 weeks in 1976 he was blind and couldn’t see at all. He had a big struggle all three weeks. He could not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He said he believed He was a prophet, a teacher and a good man, but not the Son of God. Day and night he was busy with this. He was a seeking man. Earlier in life he went to Japan, studied Japanese, and went from one temple to the other and learned about their gods and their religions. He had no joy, happiness or peace. He had studied, gotten married, but the vacuum in his heart remained.
Then after 3 weeks, he gave in and accepted Jesus as the Son of God. Suddenly his blindness fell like scales to the ground. He was full of life and energy. He continued with the trout for a number of years and the work prospered amazingly in his hands. He was dedicated and devoted in his work.
However, above all, Jesus meant everything to him. He could not stop facing people and asking them, ‘Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God’. He was a person through whom the Lord Jesus could display His unlimited patience and power.
From the trout he looked for water on the mission. But he realised his knowledge on water was very small, so he decided to go and study further in water, so that he could help us more. The studies weren’t easy, but the Lord assisted him. He persevered and passed well. Only a few of them who started the studies actually completed. He didn’t study to pass, but to understand, so when he had completed his studies, he asked his professors if he could still attend classes for some time. They were astounded, but allowed him. He continued for another six months, until he was satisfied that he understood the work.
After his studies, he wanted to gain experience, and in all his work he added, “I do not do it for man, but for Him who saved me, forgiven me my sins and made a new creation out of me.” He is a testimony of what the Son of God can do in a person’s life. He never looked back. He found the Precious Pearl, and gladly turned from everything, so he might have this pearl.