"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
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Lisa |
Hi, my name is Lisa (Aliza) and here is my story.
Lisa and André.
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On October 5, 1960, at the Salvation Army Grace Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, my
mother brought a set of twins into the world, a boy, and a girl. The girl, named Lisa
(Aliza) was the first to arrive with the boy, named Andre, arriving ½ hour later. Andre
was struggling to live and needed extra care. The doctors did not think he would survive.
They thought Andre would have brain damage and not function normally. However, God
answered prayer and Andre did survive to become a healthy, normal child. I, the twin
named Lisa, and Andre were now the sixth and seventh children of Katie and Fred.
"When my Mom started to attend the Salvation Army in Halifax, she
brought all of us children to the Sunday school. This was the start of our
Christian life." |
When my Mom started to attend the Salvation Army in Halifax, she brought all of us
children to the Sunday school. This was the start of our Christian life. When I was four
years old we moved to Ottawa and started to attend the Salvation Army at Parkdale. Later
we attended the Woodroffe Corps. I became involved in the singing company, junior
band, and timbrels and, later on, Corps Cadets.
My Uncle Bill was our bandleader and had a large influence in all we children’s lives. He
was our mentor. He took the extra time to teach us the basics in playing our instruments
but he also showed us unconditional love. It did not matter what we did, he would guide
us and remind us of God’s love and forgiveness.
"…one of the things I remember Mom always saying was “God will provide.”
He always did." |
When I was ten, my Mom gave birth to another set of twins, identical twin girls. I now
had four sisters and four brothers and my responsibilities grew. Dad had two jobs and
Mom worked when she could. I know that my parent struggled to provide us with food
and clothes. However, one of the things I remember Mom always saying, “God will
provide.” He always did. We did not suffer for the necessities of life.
As a child, I had always believed that Jesus died for my sins. I cannot really say when the
exact moment was that I accepted Him as My Saviour. It was later in years that I would
realise what an impact God had in my life.
Eventually I met Dave, the man I was to marry. We met through a friend from the
Salvation Army who was in the military with him. Dave was full of fun, and I was
attracted to a man who could make me laugh and maybe not take life so seriously having
come from such a large family with so many responsibilities.
David when he was in
the Navy.
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Dave did not attend church regularly, his family was not practising Christians, but this
did not stop me from wanting to marry him. Dave had a strong set of morals, he was a
good person, and in time, I believed he would make a commitment to Jesus. We were
married on June 6, 1981.
Soon after Dave and I were married, we received a transfer notice to Inuvik, North West
Territories for the end of August. My parents were horrified. I was their first child to
actually move away from the city. Although some of my other siblings were married,
they had stayed in the Ottawa area. I was not just moving, I was moving to an isolated
town. I was excited and scared. I had never been away from home.
When we arrived in Inuvik we were set up in a PMQ (Permanent Married Quarters). I
had to get used to a new way of life.
During our first year in Inuvik, we found out that my mother-in-law (Jean) had breast
cancer. She did not want us to come home. She had a mastectomy and went through
chemotherapy. After a lot of prayers and treatments, we found out that my mother-in-law
be fine. She was free of cancer.
You would think having all my prayers answered would make me a stronger Christian
but this was not the case. I took God for granted he seemed to be there whenever I needed
him. I was taking but not giving back. I was not growing spiritually. We did not attend
church in Inuvik. There was not a Salvation Army and I did not try very hard to find
another church that would suit my needs.
"I took God for granted he seemed to be there whenever I needed him." |
In the spring of 1984, the military transferred us to Homestead, Florida. What a change!
We went from freezing temperatures to sunny, warm temperatures. I also found out that I
was expecting my first child. Ken was born on January 15, 1985. What a blessing!
This was a peaceful time for Dave and I. I was able to stay at home with our new baby
and enjoy being a new mom. I did make a small effort to find a Salvation Army church
but the closest one was in Miami. This seemed a bit too far to travel so I neglected to
attend church for two years.
After two years in Florida, the military transferred us to Ottawa where I found out I was
expecting another child. Kimberly arrived on August 26, 1987. I started attending church
again, with Dave attending the occasional service.
"We had a difficult experience during our first few years in Ottawa… We
had to watch Dave’s sister say goodbye to her daughter." |
We had a difficult experience during our first few years in Ottawa. Dave’s twelve-year-
old niece was rushed to the Children’s hospital when her heart stopped as a result of an
asthma attack. She was put on life support but the doctors warned us that she would not
make it through the night. They suggested that we say our goodbyes. We had to watch
Dave’s sister say goodbye to her daughter. I could not comprehend ever having to do this.
I needed to help my sister-in-law and, as Dave’s family was not affiliated with any
church, I suggested that we contact my pastors. Flo and Harold came right away. They
were with us when we said goodbye to Amanda.
While I was saying my goodbye to Amanda, I recognized the technician monitoring her
life support as a baritone player from our Senior Band. I was immediately comforted. I
knew that when a Salvationist put on that uniform their first commitment was to God. I
knew Amanda was in good hands.
Flo and Harold prayed with our family and I believe they were able to bring some
measure of comfort to Amanda’s parents. Amanda did die, but she died peacefully.
During this crisis, Flo and Harold made an impact on all of our lives.
"Dave’s family saw uniform-wearing Salvationists who were willing to set
aside all other priorities to be with someone in need. I started to feel pulled
toward making a greater commitment to God…" |
During this crisis, Flo and Harold made an impact on all of our lives. Dave’s family saw
uniform-wearing Salvationists who were willing to set aside all other priorities to be with
someone in need. I started to feel pulled toward making a greater commitment to God,
after Amanda’s funeral. I had been coasting and felt it was time to take a step forward. I
decided to become more involved in the church than just attending the occasional
Sunday. I started back in the Senior Band and I starting having the children attend
Sunday school on a regular basis.
At this time, I found out that I was expecting my third child. Jennifer arrived on August
30,1990. Our family was complete.
Dedication of Jennifer.
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A few years after Jennifer was born we learned that my mother-in-law had cancer again.
This time it was bone cancer. She was living in Stratford at the time, so Dave and I went
to visit her on weekends. We learned that she did not have long to live. Dave’s family
had still not become involved with a church so we called the Salvation Army in Stratford.
We also called Flo who had moved to London. I needed to know that someone would
pray with Jean and perhaps she would make peace with our Lord.
Flo went to visit Jean several times. In that time, Jean came to understand and accept
Jesus as her Saviour. She died eight weeks after the diagnosis of the bone cancer, but
when she died she was ready and at peace. I thank God for the support given to us at this
time of need.
"…Jean came to understand and accept Jesus as her Saviour. She died
eight weeks after the diagnosis of the bone cancer, but when she died she
was ready and at peace." |
Soon after Jean died, I became involved with teaching the Salvation Army’s Beginners
Band. I thought I could use my skills to help and my son Ken would soon be joining the
band. It takes a lot of patience to teach a group of children the basics of music. However,
the rewards were great as I watched the children grow musically and spiritually.
I followed Ken through to his starting with the Young People’s Band and decided to help
there. As the years went on my daughters Kim and Jennifer became involved in the
Beginners Band and the Singing Company.
Around this time, Dave started talking about taking Senior Soldiers classes so he could
become more aware of what the Salvation Army Church and being a Salvation Army
Soldier represented. When Dave began the classes he said he was not going to commit to
anything but as the classes progressed he realised he believed in everything the Army
represented. When Dave finished the classes he signed his Senior Soldier Pledge and
stated that he believed that Jesus died to save us from our sins. Dave and I have always
had a strong marriage but what a blessing it was when he made that commitment. We had
even more to share with each other. Now it was not just me guiding my children in their
Christian upbringing – Dave was alongside me.
"When Dave finished the classes he signed his Senior Soldier Pledge…what
a blessing it was when he made that commitment…Now it was not just me
guiding my children in their Christian upbringing – Dave was alongside
me." |
During the past year, I have watched my children’s faith grow. We learned that my
father-in-law had a cancerous growth that his doctors wanted to treat only with hormone
therapy. The prognosis did not look good. I remember one of the children saying “I
prayed for Grampa and I believe God will make him better.” What a statement of faith
from a child! Soon after we learned that my-father-in-law’s doctors had taken a blood test
to find any remaining, live cancer cells. The results were so amazing that the doctors
performed the test a second time. The test showed no live cancer cells. This diagnosis
gives my father-in-law more time and us more time to show him what the power of
prayer and God’s love can do in his life.
This is an exciting time for us and I thank God for His many blessings. God has answered
many of our prayers. We will serve Him and share the power of His love with others as
others have done for us.
Lisa.
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