First, a Praise Report From Lucas in Brazil
Eerste, ‘n Lofverslag van Lucas in Brazilië

Thank you for everything you helped me learn in this great course. God is now leading my life and finally, my marriage restoration, in His time.

Dankie vir alles wat julle my gehelp leer het in hierdie puik kursus. God lei nou uiteindelik my lewe en finaal, my huwelik herstel, in Sy tyd.

I would recommend that every man studies your free course—every man going through crises in their marriage. It's not enough to just read the book, journaling has changed me and my marriage. I'm not sure why every man doesn't do it since it’s free.

Ek sou aanbeveel dat elke man julle gratis kursusse studeer—elke man wat deur ‘n krisis in hulle huwelik gaan. Dit is nie genoeg om net die boek te lees nie, om te joernaal het my en my huwelik verander. Ek is nie seker waarom elke man dit nie doen nie aangesien dit gratis is.

Before coming here my life was a mess. I was seeking aid from everyone, then on the Internet, I found this site. I filled out my questionnaire to access the course online since I'd heard such good things about it. I was living a life of despair and deep depression. This course is helping me a lot and I have much more hope now once I began to journal daily.

Voordat ek hiernatoe gekom het was my lewe ‘n gemors. Ek het hulp by almal gesoek, toe op die internet, ek het hierdie werf gevind. Ek het my vraelys ingevul om die toegang tot die kursus aanlyn te kry aangesien ek sulke goeie dinge daaroor gehoor het.Ek het ‘n lewe van wanhoop en diep depressie gelewe. Die kursus help my baie en ek het nou baie meer hoop vandat ek begin joernaal het.

My Lord thank you for directing me to this site. Thanks for helping me in a difficult time of my life and for changing me. I know Your providence made me find this Ministry.  I'm am finally reaping joy by your grace the more I invest into learning the truth.

My Here dankie dat Jy my na hierdie webwerf dirigeer het. Dankie dat Jy my gedurende ‘n baie moeilike tyd in my lewe gehelp het en my verander het. Ek weet jou voorsiening het my hierdie Bediening maak vind. Ek saai uiteindelik vreugde deur Jou genade hoe meer ek daarin belê om die waarheid te leer.

Note: Lucas donated to pay for his course and another man in need and wants to tell him:

Nota: Lukas het ‘n donasie gegee om vir sy kursus en ‘n ander behoeftige man se kursus te betaal en wil vir hom sê:

"My brother, you who are going through a dark valley or perhaps living in a time where you do not realize the hope there is still left if your marriage, but just know and trust that there is. Trust in GOD to do it. He is the Lord of all things. He is the God of the impossible. God bless you as you study this course!

“My broer, jy wat deur ‘n donker vallei gaan of miskien lewe jy in ‘n tyd waar jy nie besef dat hoop nog steeds oor is in jou huwelik, jy moet net weet en vertrou dat dit is. Vertrou op GOD om dit te doen. Hy is die Here van alle dinge. Hy is die God van die onmoontlike. God seën jou soos wat jy hierdie kursus studeer!

Now for Lucas' RESTORED Marriage Testimony.
Nou vir Lukas se HERSTELDE Huweliksgetuienis.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!!"
“Ja! Ja! Ja!!”

Lucas, please tell us how the crisis in your marriage started?
Lukas, vertel asseblief vir ons hoe jou huweliks krisis begin het?

I realized there was a crisis one day when I was in the city where my wife was working. This city was 6 hours from our residence and I went after her in May. I thought we were about to resume our relationship, but it was there that she confessed to me that she was involved with another man (OM). Three days after my wife had asked for the separation, I was fired from my job. I lost everything in a week. All this was the beginning of God moving in my life. 

Ek het besef daar is ‘n krisis toe ek een dag in die stad was waar my vrou gewerk het. Hierdie stad was 6 ure van ons woonplek af. En ek het in Mei agter haar aangegaan. Ek het gedink ons was op die punt om ons verhouding te hervat, maar dit was daar wat sy bely het dat sy by ‘n ander man (AM) betrokke was. Drie dae nadat my vrou gevra het vir die skeiding, was ek by my werk afgedank. Ek het alles binne ‘n week verloor. Dit was alles die begin van God wat in my lewe beweeg.

Today I realize that the Lord protected me a lot during the revelations that my wife did, about this new relationship and her reasons for separation. It was a very bad day, it seems that the world had fallen on top of me.

Vandag besef ek dat die Here my baie gedurende die openbaringe beskerm het van wat my vrou gedoen het, oor hierdie nuwe verhouding en haar redes vir die skeiding. Dit was ‘n baie slegte dag, dit het gelyk asof die wêreld bo op my geval het.

Early that same day I said a prayer, "My God, My Lord, forgive me for my mistakes and sins. Please hear me, I do not want another family, I want this family you gave me Lord." And I see that it was right after this prayer that God led along the correct paths to get to my restoration.

Vroeër dieselfde dag het ek in gebed gesê, “My God, vergewe my vir my foute en sondes. Hoor my asseblief, ek wil nie ‘n ander familie hê nie, ek wil hierdie familie hê wat jy my gegee het Here.” En ek sien dit was net na hierdie gebed dat God my langs die regte paaie gelei het om by my herstel uit te kom.

It wasn’t due to what my wife had done, in being with this other man. No, all this happened because I was very disobedient to God. I say this, because, for 13 years of relationship with my wife (including dating, engagement, and marriage) I committed adultery, gave into the temptation of prostitution, I was rude, I gave room to the devil, to alcoholism and allowed pornography coming into my marriage and other things that displeased God.

Dit was nie as gevolg van wat my vrou gedoen het nie, deur saam hierdie ander man te wees nie. Nee, dit het alles gebeur omdat ek baie gehoorsaam was aan God. Ek sê dit, omdat, vir 13 jaar van ‘n verhouding met my vrou (insluitend uitgaan, verlowing, en huwelik) het ek owerspel gepleeg, ingegee aan die versoeking van prostitusie, ek was ongeskik, ek het vir die duiwel vashouplek gegee, aan alkolisme en het toegelaat dat pornografie in my huwelik kom en ander dinge wat die Here ontevrede gemaak het. 

That's what attracted me to God, my Father and to a unique experience for those who want to live in God's presence in their lives. I have always been a "religious" man, always been Catholic, but I was a Pharisee. I was a false prophet, although I was a minister of the Word and a preacher of the Word of God  I’d still be completely disobedient to God—but praise the Lord, He has drawn me to HIM during this tribulation. Because if it were not so, I would still be in dangerous error to this day.

Dit is wat my tot God, my Vader aangetrokke gemaak het, en aan ‘n unieke ervaring vir die wie in God se teenwoordigheid in hulle lewens wil leef. Ek was nog altyd ‘n “godsdienstige” man, altyd Katoliek, maar ek was ‘n Farisieër. Ek was ‘n vals profeet, alhoewel ek ‘n minister van die Woord was en ‘n prediker van die Woord van God was ek nog steeds ongehoorsaam aan God—maar loof die Here, Hy het my gedurende hierdie beproewing na HOM toe genader. Omdat as dit nie so was nie, sou ek vandag nog in gevaarlike fout wees.

Next, Lucas, please tell our readers, how did God change you & your situation as you sought Him wholeheartedly?
Volgende, Lucas, vertel asseblief vir ons lesers, hoe God jou en jou situasie verander het soos wat jy Hom heelhartig uitgesoek het?

The Lord put a desire in my heart to seek testimonies of restored marriages, and find out if this would be possible. I even saw some testimonies, but it didn’t interest me much because I was very troubled and disgusted with the whole situation in my own life. But then God guided me to a couple of friends I have. And while talking to the wife of my college friend I made a decision to fight for my marriage.

Die Heer het ‘n begeerte in my hart geplaas om getuienisse van herstelde huwelike uit te soek, en uit te vind of dit moontlik sou wees. Ek het selfs sommige getuienisse gesien, maar het nie daarin belang gestel nie omdat ek baie omgekrap en gewalg deur die hele situasie in my eie lewe was. Maar toe lei God my na ‘n paar vriende wat ek gehad het. En terwyl ek met die vrou van ‘n Kollege vriend gepraat het het ek ‘n besluit gemaak om vir my huwelik te baklei.

His wife was an instrument in God’s hands. It was through talking to her that God showed Himself to me and conveyed His word to me.

Hierdie vrou was ‘n instrument in God se hande. Dit was deur my gesprek met haar dat God Homself aan my gewys het en Sy woord aan my oorgedra het.

During this conversation, she said, "GOD WILL NOT DESTROY A FAMILY TO BUILD ANOTHER." And after hearing this word I decided to look for more testimonies of restored marriages and to fight for my own marriage. God led me to find a restoration family website that was very good and ended up leading me to the RMI website.  And then a friend, who is also on this walk for his own marriage, sent me the book "HOW GOD CAN AND WILL RESTORE YOUR MARRIAGE." This book was the turning point in my life. When I started reading the testimonies, the praise reports, I subscribed and began to take the course for men in my own language, Portuguese. I ended up doing all of them, all 3 courses you offer men, even though the ones I first found were directed to women.

Gedurende hierdie gesprek, het sy gesê, GOD SAL NIE ‘N FAMILIE VERNIETIG OM ‘N ANDER TE BOU NIE.” En nadat ek hierdie woord gehoor het het ek besluit om vir nog getuienisse van herstelde huwelike te soek en te veg vir my eie huwelik. God het my gelei om ‘n herstelde familie webwerf te vind wat baie goed was en wat opgeeindig het om my na die RMI webwerf te lei. Toe het ‘n vriend, wie ook op hierdie pad is vir sy eie huwelik, my die boek "HOE GOD JOU HUWELIK KAN EN SAL HERSTEL.” Hierdie boek was die keerpunt in my lewe. Toe ek die getuienisse, die lofverslae, begin lees het het ek ingeteken en die kursus vir mans in my eie taal, Portugees, begin doen. Ek het opgeeindig om hulle almal te doen, al 3 kursusse wat julle vir mans offer, alhoewel die eerstes wat ek gevind het aan vrouens gerig was.

All this led me to seek God even more as a Father. The Psalms and Proverbs taught me to PRAY to God. During my search towards God— the Lord has transformed me. It was during this crisis that I had my first real and personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

Dit alles het my gelei om God meer as ‘n Vader na te streef. Die Psalms en Spreuke het my geleer om vir God te BID. Gedurende my soektog vir God — het die Here my getransformeer. Dit was gedurende hierdie krisis wat ek my eerste ware en persoonlike ontmoeting met Jesus Christus gehad het.

I confess that I fell many times during this journey, but each of these falls is what He used to make me look more to God for my healing and deliverance.

Ek bely dat ek baie keer gedurende hierdie reistog geval het, maar elkeen van hierdie valle is wat Hy gebruik het om my na God toe te laat kyk vir my genesing en uitlewering.

What are the principles, from God's Word (or through our resources), did the Lord teach you during this trial Lucas?
Wat is die beginsels, uit God se Woord (of deur ons hulpbronne), wat die Here jou gedurende hierdie beproewing geleer het Lucas?

The main principle was to have the grace to read the Scriptures more often and believe more in them. And also reading the books and taking the course that RMI offers us, they are full of truths of God's Word that help you grow spiritually like none I've ever found.

Die hoof beginsel was om die genade te hê om die Bybel meer dikwels te lees en meer in dit te glo. En ook om die boeke te lees en die kursus te neem wat RMI ons offer, hulle is vol waarhede van God se Woord wat jou spiritueel help groei soos niks wat ek al ooit gevind het nie.

All these materials have taught me to live an intimate relationship with God as my Father and to have a personal relationship with the Lord. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before. All this led me to love God above all else, something I didn’t do before.

Al hierdie hulpbronne het my geleer om ‘n intieme verhouding met God as my Vader te hê en om ‘n persoonlike verhouding met die Here te hê. Dit is soos niks wat ek al voorheen ervaar het nie. Dit het  alles gelei om vir God bo alles lief te hê, iets wat ek nie voorheen gedoen het nie.

The other principle was practicing the LETTING GO. It is necessary, even though it's difficult. It is this principle that makes you take your hands off things so that God's hand becomes sovereign over all the situations or circumstances in our lives.

Die ander beginsel was om TE LAAT GAAN uit te oefen. Dit is noodsaaklik, alhoewel dit moeilik is. Dit is hierdie beginsel wat jou jou hande van dinge af laat haal sodat God se hand sowerein oor al die situsies of omstandighede in ons lewens word.

That's what I did and when I started applying it to my life, I obtained several victories. The secret is LETTING GO of everything to God is critical.

Dit is wat ek gedoen het en toe ek dit in my lewe begin aanwend het, ek het verskeie oorwinnings behaal. Die geheim om alles aan God te LAAT GAAN is krities.

The word of God that caught my attention the most in this journey was:

Die woord van God wat my aandag die meeste in hierdie reis getrek het was:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22

“Wees altyd bly. Bid gedurig. Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar, want dit is wat God in Christus Jesus van julle verwag. Moenie die werking van die Heilige Gees teenstaan nie. Moenie profesieë geringskat nie, maar toets dit alles, behou wat goed is, en bly weg van alles wat sleg is.” 1 Tessalonisense 5: 16-22

Lucas, what were the most difficult times that the Lord helped you through?
Lukas, wat was die mees moeilikste tye waardeur die Here jou gehelp het?

I realize that the most difficult times was at the beginning of the whole situation; when you find out about the other person in your spouse’s life. And when you discover, through God’s hand, that the error was totally YOURS. But when you start to learn and to understand, according to the word of God, and experience a relationship with God, the Lord protects our hearts from everything.

Ek besef dat die mees moeilikste tye was aan die begin van die hele situasie; wanneer jy uitvind van die ander persoon in jou gade se lewe. En wanneer jy ontdek, deur God se hand, dat die fout totaal JOUNE was. Maar wanneer jy begin om te leer en te verstaan, volgens die woord van God, en ‘n verhouding met die Here ervaar, beskerm die Here ons harte van alles.

I say this because God protected me from everything, even when she said she did not love me anymore, and that she had found in another man what she did not find in me.

Ek sê dit omdat God my van alles beskerm het, selfs toe sy gesê het dat sy my nie meer liefhet nie, en dat sy in ‘n ander man gevind het wat sy nie in my gevind het nie.

Please, help our readers to know if you suspected you were close to restoration. Were there any signs Lucas?
Asseblief, help ons lesers om te weet of jy vermoed het jy was na aan herstel. Was daar enige tekens Lucas?

I did not suspect anything because things just got worse. Humanly speaking there was no hope.

Ek het niks vermoed nie omdat dinge erger geword het. Menslik gesproke was daar geen hoop nie.

Lucas were there other "turning points" during your restoration that you didn't already mention?
Lukas was daar ander “keerpunte” gedurende jou herstel wat jy nie alreeds genoem het nie?

What I said before I can't say strongly enough. The turning point was when I started practicing the Letting Go principle. I said this always in my prayers, that I did not want to worry about the situation anymore and just let it go. I started to pray to God asking Him to deliver me from the DESERT because I couldn’t bear that situation anymore.

Wat ek voorheen gesê het kan ek nie sterk genoeg sê nie. Die keerpunt was toe ek die Laat Gaan beginsel begin toepas het. Ek het dit altyd in my gebede gesê, dat ek nie meer oor die situasie beommerd wil wees nie en dit net te laat gaan. Ek het aan God begin bid om my uit die WOESTYN uit te lewer omdat ek die situasie nie meer kon verdra nie.

I wanted to live the best of God because all I was experiencing and learning always led me to  GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVE to humanity. And I knew that God's decision would be the best for me. Whether or not He chose to restore my marriage wasn't my main goal. This is about TRULY RELYING ON OUR FAITHFUL GOD. That was the phrase that I stuck to, and still do, GOD IS FAITHFUL and so is His plan for our lives.

Ek wou die beste van God lewe omdat alles wat ek ervaar en geleer het my altyd na GOD SE BETROUBARE LIEFDE aan die mensdom gelei het. En ek het geweet dat God se besluit die beste vir my sal wees. Of Hy gekies het om my huwelik te herstel was nie my hoofdoel nie. Dit gaan om WERKLIK OP ONS BETROUBARE GOD STAAT TE MAAK. Dit was die frase waarop ek gebly het, en doen steeds, GOD IS BETROUBAAR en So is Sy plan vir ons lewens.

If you would, Lucas, carefully explain just HOW it happened: Did your wife contact you by phone or just show up at your home?
As jy sou, Lucas, verduideik versigtig net HOE dit gebeur het: Het jou vrou jou per telefoon gekontak of net by jou huis opgedaag?

I did not suspect anything because since May, when we signed the divorce, things have only become worse. She even asked me to take all my belongings out of the house, but whenever I tried to do that something happened to stop it.

Ek het niks vermoed nie omdat vanaf Mei, toe ons die egskeidings papiere geteken het, het dinge erger begin word. Sy het my selfs gevra om al my besittings uit die huis te neem, maar toe ek probeer het om dit te doen het iets gebeur om dit te keer.

Then, nine months later, in February, things actually got worse. She started showing her new relationship in social networks, according to a friend of mine, and then her father asked me to take my stuff out of the house. Then I felt obliged to do so within 60 days. Our house is on top of the house of my father-in-law.

Toe, nege maande later, in Februarie, het dinge eintlik erger geword. Sy het volgens ‘n vriend van my, haar nuwe verhouding op sosiale netwerke begin wys, en to vra haar vader vir my om my goed uit die huis te neem. Toe voel ek verplig om dit binne 60 dae te doen. Ons huis was bo op my skoonpa se huis.

I know that in that same month God put a desire in my heart to pray more for my wife, which I was not doing any longer; I'd stopped as part of my letting go. And this desire came to me one month before our restoration, which took place the following month.

Ek het geweet dat in dieselfde maand God ‘n begeerte in my hart geplaas het om meer vir my vrou te bid, wat ek nie meer gedoen het nie; ek het opgehou as deel van my laat gaan. En hierdie begeerte het ‘n maand voor ons herstel na my toe gekom, wat die volgende maand plaasgevind het.

My wife asked my mother-in-law to call me and say that she (my wife) would like to talk to me and in that same day the LORD DID HIS WORK OF RECONCILIATION AND DECLARED HIS VICTORY IN OUR LIVES. We should always say to HIM,  "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen! " Revelation 7:12

My vrou het my skoonma gevra om my te skakel en sê dat sy (my vrou) met my wou praat en dieselfde dag het die HERE SY WERK VAN VERSOENING GEDOEN EN SY OORWINNING IN ONS LEWENS VERKLAAR. Ons behoort altyd aan Hom te sê: “Amen! Die lof en die heerlikheid, die wysheid, die dank en die eer, die mag en die sterkte behoort aan ons God tot in alle ewigheid. Amen! ”Die Openbaring 7:12 

Based on your own restoration, would you recommend any of our resource in particular that helped you, Lucas?
Gebaseer op jou eie herstel, sou jy enige van ons hulpbronne in besonder die wat jou gehelp het aanbeveel, Lucas?

Everyone in a marriage crisis needs to get the book How God Will Restore Your Marriage and give it to friends and family in marriage crises. It will not only restore but it will also help them to find the Lord. Next, the A Wise Man and A Wise Woman for your wives. The courses, really help to keep you moving forward daily and to journal your heart and feelings to the Lord that really begins to change your life in amazing ways. I also would suggest the Encourager.

Almal in ‘n huweliks krisis behoor die boek Hoe God Jou Huwelik Kan en Sal Herstel te kry en dit vir vriende en familie in huweliks krisis te gee. Dit sal nie net herstel nie maar sal hulle ook help om die Here te vind. Volgende, die ‘n Wyse Man en ‘n Wyse Vrou vir jul vrouens. Die kursusse, help jou regtig om daagliks vorentoe te beweeg en om jou hart en gevoelens aan die Here te joernaal wat regtig jou lewe op ongelooflik maniere begin verander. Ek sou ook die Bemoediger aanbeveel. 

NOTE: For couples, we have a new couples course for husbands to lead and spiritually feed your wives.

NOTA: Vir paartjies, het ons ‘n nuwe paartjies kursus vir mans om hulle vrouens geestelik te lei en te voed.

Would you be interested in helping to encourage other men?
Sou jy geïnteresseerd wees om ander mans aan te moedig?

YES! YES! YES!

JA! JA! JA!

Either way, Lucas, what kind of encouragement you would like to leave for men, in conclusion?
Hoe dit ookal sy, watter soort aanmoediging sou jy vir mans, ter afsluiting los?

Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, believe in God because nothing is impossible with Him, see Luke 1:37. And everything that this ministry says and shares is true and powerful by God's grace.

Dames en here, eerstens, glo in God omdat niks vir Hom onmoontlik is nie, sien Lukas 1:37. En alles wat hierdie bediening sê en deel is waar en kragtig deur God se genade.

And the word of God is true. Read what it says:

En die woord van God is waar. Lees wat dit sê:

"The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful." Malachi 2:16) This is true because God did not allow the advancement of my divorce, which was already signed. He restored us before it took place, and we canceled it.

“Die Here die God van Israel sê Hy haat egskeiding. Egskeiding is niks anders as geweld nie, sê die Here die Almagtige. Beheers julle, moenie ontrou wees nie.” Maleagi 2:16) Dit is waar omdat God het nie die vooruitgang van my egskeiding, wat alreeds geteken was  toegelaat nie. Hy het ons herstel voordat dit plaasgevind het, en ons het dit gekanselleer.

Today my wife talks about what happened to her during that period and I feel amazed because God does not act only in our lives, but He also acts in the life of the rebellious spouse. The change is completed in the Lord's time; first to you and then to your loved one.

Vandag praat my vrou van wat met haar gebeur het tydens daardie periode en ek voel ongelooflik omdat God nie net in ons lewens optree nie, maar Hy tree ook op in die lewe van die weerspannige gade op. Die verandering word in die Here se tyd voltooi; eerste aan jou en dan aan jou geliefde.

I say this to you in closing, do not give up. God really hears our prayers, because my separation took one year and ten months. He is always by our side and, even if the circumstances are not agreeable to us, it is because the LORD is acting in our behalf.

Ek sê dit vir jou ter afsluiting, moet nie opgee nie. God hoor regtig ons gebede, omdat my skeiding een jaar en tien maande geneem het. Hy is altyd aan ons sy en, selfs as die omstandighede nie instemmend is vir ons nie, is dit omdat die HERE om ons onthalwe optree.

Please experience the power of LET GO OF EVERYTHING TO GOD no matter what crisis or difficulty you're going through. It is the only way for God to take over and do the impossible.

Ervaar asseblief die krag om van ALLES AAN GOD TE LAAT GAAN maak nie saak watter krisis of moeilikhede jy deurgaan nie. Dit is die enigste manier vir God om oor te neem en die onmoontlike te doen.