 |
CLOSEup
Meet our missionaries
...
George
& Anna Braun
|
Separated by many miles, George and Anna Braun's lives
nevertheless began with many similarities. George grew up in a small
village close to Saskatoon (SK) and Anna was raised in a Mennonite colony
in Mexico, learning to speak three languages.
Both George's and Anna's parents told them of Christ.
To Anna, her dad was a hero -- a prayer warrior whose 15 children have all
followed Christ.
George, though, found church to be boring, especially
because he couldn't understand the "high" German language.
Despite his mother's warnings of the awfulness of hell, George chose to
"have some fun" first. Accepting the Lord could wait.
And wait it did ... for two tragic events. While visiting
in Mexico, George's father died suddenly. Shortly after, George's job
foreman was found dead on the floor, with a half-eaten sandwich in his
hands. God was working in George's life to show him how empty it was and
how quickly it could be over.
When George's brother-in-law invited him to attend
baptism classes, George agreed, and that very night accepted the Lord.
Transformation occurred. Left behind were the drugs, alcohol and old
friends, allowing much time for Bible reading and prayer. George then
spent three years at Bethany College (Hepburn, SK). Later he lived in
Prince Albert and met several NCEM missionaries.
When Anna was 16, God clearly showed her family that they
should move to Canada. She then learned a fourth language -- English. Anna's
older sister served with Northern Youth Programs, and Anna followed for a
two-year term, where she learned to love First Nations people.
Later Anna was working in Prince Albert where she met
George at a prayer meeting. They became better acquainted through a
singles group and were married in 1994. They had two children, Nathan and
Alana, and were busy at their jobs and in their church in Saskatoon. Then
two contacts with NCEMers led George to pray about the possibility of
joining the Mission. He began asking the Lord to make it clear to Anna as
well.
While trucking out of Saskatoon one day George received a
call from Anna, telling of her experience the previous night. Unable to
sleep, she got up to pray. Later she dreamt that she was packing to move.
It seemed to be the affirmation they needed. They began the process of
applying to NCEM and six months later were on the field, serving on staff
at Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute.
That was over three and-a-half years ago. Though it has been a growing
and trying time, and time of spiritual warfare, George says, "My God
is able to take us through anything."
Click here to meet more of our
missionaries
Back to Northern Lights magazine
index
|
