04-30-2009, 07:42 PM
Bismillah
Jona:
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I have a story to tell ..
This story is mine but it could happen to anybody in this world… the light that God brought in my heart ISLAM.
It is so special to me and I want everybody to know it.
I am Albanian…. I was 24 years old at that time residing and working in Egypt.
I was in love with an Egyptian and our relation was very honest and serious. We were giving each other time to finalize our relationship.
My boyfriend was a Muslim as the majority of people in Egypt (Alhamdulelah).
Now let me start from the beginning, I was born in Albania in 1974 in a Christian Orthodox family during the reign of the communist regime. We were not allowed to believe in God (God Forbid). Who does this RISK their lives and their children lives for generations to follow. We were an atheist country (God Forbid) and there were no churches or mosques in Albania. This made my religious background to be very poor.
All I could remember is that my mother made colored eggs discreetly for me and my brother to eat. I still remember the taste of those eggs, which differed from normal ones I had every morning. But I was told not to talk about this with my friends in order to avoid jeopardizing my parents. I did not know the meaning of those eggs, I didn’t even know that God existed. But I knew that there is something up there in the sky with an incredible power Who can help me in difficult moments. So at every time I needed this power, I used to look to the sky from my room and feel very comfortable after asking for help.
So without being conscious about the identity of the super power up there, it still made me feel content and relieved. I established a secret link between the SKYS and me (at that time). This was sublime and confidential that no one knew about it for years.
In 1990 Albania witnessed Democratic changes associated with the permission for people to practice religion. This was manifested in re-establishing churches and mosques.
People were relieved and started to be content about believing in God.
My mother has Greek origins and one day she told me that we were Christians in terms of religion which included so, so, and so.
When I went to church for the first time, I had a very special feeling that I can not explain until today.
But I had to kiss or touch all the pictures of Saints spread around the church, light candles and pray. I did this for several times and then I became confused.
Which one of these pictures that I touch or kiss will help me ??????????
I used to ask my mother why the preist says about the wine after the service“ That is Christ’s Blood”. But she always replied “shshshsh”.
I was not regular on attending church services or confessions and other practices. Also I did not pray to Jesus Christ or keep his, Saint Mary’s or other Saints pictures as most of the people do.
Even when I used to go to church, I only did that because I felt warm and relieved in the house of God. I used to go to church and speak only with God and not with the surrounding pictures.
Then at the age of 18 I went to Greece at my mother’s relatives where I was baptized. During the whole ceremony I was so tense and nervous, I did not understand anything from the whole process. Why they pour oil and sink me in the water for several times ??? I even asked my mother and my Nuna (grandmother) but they said something that I did not understand.
I remember that I was happier that day with the new clothes I received than about the baptism itself.
From this day on, my religious practices came to a complete stop. I had so many questions bothering me, which had no answers or explanation.
I started thinking and thinking all over again. I realized at the end that I was more conformable when Albania was still under a dictatorship ruling - when I used to look into the sky and pray - than all the confusion I experience in church.
So what I did is I created my own religion “ME and God one channel”.
I used to pray only to Him without having to go to the church. I felt more content when I was in the window looking up to the sky and praying than having to kiss Priests hands and drink this thing they called “Christ’s Blood” (God Forbid) when I had more nice wine at home.
For various reasons I had to live in Egypt and there I met the Muslim man I referred to in the beginning. While I was around with him I always tried to take as much useful knowledge. I learnt from him and what helped me even more is living in a religious country which made me think that it is the right time to find the right path. I can not spend the rest of my life looking up to the sky from my window and pray. I should look and find the truth.
I got to know many people in Egypt and started asking questions which were cooking in my mind. I started collecting information from every possible source.
But the day I will never forget in my life will be the day I was introduced to this woman who was capable to explain to me in details whatever could be clarified for hours and hours with so much patience.
She brought in front of me the beautiful aspects of ISLAM, strength and power of Allah, which was not much different from what I believed in since long ago. ONLY ONE CHANNEL BETWEEN ALLAH AND ME.
She showed me the light and Allah opened my heart to accept THE ONE and only ONE religion on earth…ISLAM. I took the Shehada at 3.00 in the morning during a very touching and meaningful moment. Now I’m a Muslim Alhamdulelah, proud and happy to be one. No doubts about my religion and I wish everybody could be gifted with the same gift.
Now I’m back to Albania for GOOD.
I want to tell my ex- boyfriend that he is excused for the pain he caused me and I pray to Allah to forgive him Inshalla.
I also want to tell everybody who reads this story that Having God in your heart is incomparable. Try to keep Him there always.
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