Valeria: “Jesus understands my agony.”
Valeria, one of the victims of a church explosion in Makassar, Indonesia, on March 28, 2021, will never forget the days coming up to Easter. She is constantly reminded of how that day affected her life through the agony and itching on her skin and body. However, despite her circumstances, she witnesses how God continues to work in her life, giving her strength even to this day.
One week before Easter 2021, on Palm Sunday, Valeria and her friends were getting ready to leave the Church after attending Mass when a bomb went off not too far from where they were standing. “At the time, we believed that an electric substation nearby had exploded, but soon after, we began to feel the heat and pain in our bodies,” Valeria recalled. “We had no idea that a bomb had just gone off in front of our church.”
The long road to rehabilitation for her body began. Her last two years have been spent in the ICU for treatments, numerous operations, and medical checkups.
Through the long journey, one experience sticks in Valeria’s memory. “After the incident, I had to have surgery a few days later. So, it was on Friday— exactly on Good Friday. I was laying in the surgical room with my arms outstretched. They had been in a lot of pain from the night before till 6 p.m. on that Friday. It was almost unbearable. ‘Jesus, is this the kind of pain You suffered when you were crucified this Good Friday?’ I recall thinking. This is so painful!”
In that moment, Valeria realized that God was not only with her but understood her. Even in the worst agony, Valeria was never alone and Jesus knew how she felt. Today, she is thankful that she has a God who understands what she has been going through.
Valeria is still dealing with the effects of major burns on her body. Nevertheless. she is thankful for everything that God allowed to occur in her life and for the way He has transformed her.
Valeria has had a long journey of recovery since being the victim of a bombing.
“I can now accept my condition and am thankful for the experiences God has given me. Even though there are still those who see me differently, I now have greater delight in living this life because God has made it possible for me to accept myself. I pray that nothing like what occurred to me will ever happen again, especially on this Easter Sunday.
Open Doors local partners have been journeying with Valeria since 2021 and supporting them with prayers and encouragement, as well as necessary support when needed.
Prayer
Please pray for the continued recovery of Valeria, as well as others who were injured in the bombing. As Easter approaches, many persecuted Christians are worried about the possibility of attacks: Major festivals are natural times to target religious minorities. Pray for the safety of the Persecuted Church in Indonesia and around the world.
