I am very grateful for Christian Science. In the ten years that I have been a member of this Church, I have had many instances of God's protection and healing power.

There have been situations involving employment, housing, complications associated with pregnancy, and relationship difficulties that have all been healed through reliance on God.

During one summer, as part of my job at a camp, I was in charge of the bicycling and camping program. Each day the bikers and I were to ride about thirty miles and then camp for the night, repeating this procedure over a week's time. I had done this particular work for about four summers and felt like an old hand.

One day, shortly after we had started out, one of the campers had a mechanical problem with his bike. We pulled off to the side of the road so that I could make the adjustment. I quickly took care of the problem, but when I stood up something happened to my back that made it difficult for me to stand upright or to walk.

With some assistance, I was able to mount my bike and pedal to the next town, which was about five miles away. There I found a public telephone and tried to call a Christian Science practitioner for help through prayer. The phone was not working, but I felt confident that I could fulfill my responsibilities to the camp and to the bikers and that nothing could really hinder a healing.

With some difficulty I was able to finish the trip for that day. Then we returned to the same town where I had tried to phone the practitioner. I was still having difficulty standing and walking, so I tried the same public phone. I was able to reach the practitioner and explain the situation. The practitioner was most loving and assured me that I could express my God-derived dominion over the trouble.

As simple as it might seem, when that spiritual truth was shared, a huge burden was lifted from me and I felt absolutely buoyant. I was able to straighten up immediately and walk back to the place where the other bikers were waiting for me. The healing was so complete that I continued the trip and slept on the ground with no adverse effects. A wonderful footnote to this experience is that at the same time my back was healed, a small lump that had developed on my neck vanished.

Our youngest daughter was about five months old when she woke one night with labored breathing. The condition seemed serious. I knew that my fear was not helping the situation. After a few moments I left our daughter with my husband, who was caring and quietly praying for our daughter. Her breathing became less labored at that point, but because I still felt anxious, I called a practitioner.

Within the hour the child was sleeping peacefully and normally. Some days later this same condition reasserted itself. We again relied on God through prayer, and she was soon breathing normally. There has been no return of the condition.

I am most grateful for these healings.

Roberta Gayle Wennerstrom
Elgin, Illinois

It is with great gratitude and joy that I attest to the healings of my wife's back and our baby daughter's breathing. They occurred exactly as related.

Steven R. Wennerstrom