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This is the second part of the report about Brother Waldemar Brauer. In this interview, he recounts a remarkable experience he had while serving the CDH Stephanus at the Russian-Ukrainian border. The border was not the only obstacle he had to overcome.
(Part 1: God accompanies you in the work you do for Him )
You've made many trips, including to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and many other places. It wasn't always easy. But one trip was particularly special. What happened?
The trip took place shortly after my 40th birthday. I had a load in my truck that I was to deliver in two parts. I delivered one half to Ukraine and the other to Russia. After delivering the Ukrainian portion, I set off to cross the border into Russia. At that time, laws changed very quickly and frequently. When I arrived at the border, I was not allowed to enter Russia. I was told to go to Kyiv to obtain a document that would allow me entry. Otherwise, I would have to go back home.
While I was still at the border, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest and noticed dizziness when I walked faster. At first, I thought it was a cold. I set off for the ministry in Kyiv. I arrived there on Friday and applied for this document. However, I was informed that I could only pick it up on Monday, so I spent the weekend in Kyiv.
A brother from Kyiv, who was traveling with me, became worried because I was getting paler and the stabbing pain wouldn't stop. He offered to listen to my heart. After I agreed, he did so and then told me I needed to go to the hospital immediately, probably for at least 10 days. I resisted because my truck was at the Russian border and I was supposed to pick up the document from the ministry on Monday. So I decided not to go to the hospital and trusted that the Lord would help me so I could complete His mission.
I trusted that the Lord would help me so that I could complete His mission.
Has your condition changed at all since you made your decision?
I waited until Monday to pick up the paperwork. On Sunday, my hosts went to the meeting, but I was too weak to attend. I lay on the couch and felt my arms and legs going numb. I felt like I was dying. My thoughts were with the truck waiting at the border for me to continue my journey, and then with my wife at home, waiting for me with our young children. I spoke to God and said that I had damaged my body and only He could rebuild it. After briefly repeating this prayer in my mind, I was able to breathe deeply again, and my whole body began to tingle.
I called my wife and asked her to file a plea for me at the church. I didn't tell her what had happened. Not long after, I felt suddenly much better. It was as if a needle had been pulled from my chest, and I stood up again. I glanced at the clock and noticed that the meeting at home was just beginning. I offered a prayer of thanks to God and waited for my hosts to return. They, too, had prayed for me at the meeting.
What happened next? Were you able to complete your mission?
I received the necessary documents on Monday. Brother Peter Noworok accompanied me from that point on, and we drove together to the border. There we encountered the next obstacle: the Russian customs officials refused to let us through. They said they wanted to send our letter to the Russian embassy for review, and that this would take another week.
Brother Peter and I prayed together after this conversation. He told me that God had laid it on his heart to pray alone. He went behind a bush, prayed, and returned after a few minutes. Then he told me that God had revealed to him that we could continue our journey immediately. I told him to go to the officials and get the paperwork. He returned two minutes later, and we crossed the border without any problems.
Brother Waldemar (center) on his first trip to Romania.
And your health? Did you go to the doctor when you got to Germany?
After I returned home, our pastor approached me and asked what had happened in Ukraine. I explained that I had been experiencing mild heart problems, and he asked me to see a doctor. So I went to the doctor, who examined me thoroughly. After listening to my heart, he wanted to know exactly what had happened. I explained, and he said he didn't quite understand what was wrong with me. He referred me to a specialist. Before I left, he told me that I could have dropped dead at any moment and that he couldn't understand how I hadn't been in any pain.
So I was referred to this specialist. The doctor specifically asked me not to drive myself, but to have someone drive me. When I arrived, this doctor also examined me thoroughly and took new measurements, as he suspected the other doctor's equipment was outdated. He said it couldn't be that the values from the first test reflected reality. After the tests, we sat down together. He explained the function of the heart to me using a poster and showed me exactly where my problem lay. He told me that I had no blood circulation and, according to the equipment, resembled a corpse. He said he didn't believe in miracles, but he couldn't explain something like this.
After some further examinations, I could see the doctor's helplessness. He suggested a minor procedure to open the blocked vein, after which everything should be fine again. Seeing how calm I was, he told me that only the person who had helped me before could help me now. After the procedure, my body felt like I'd stepped under a hot shower. My circulation was back to normal. The doctor was very pleased that the procedure had been successful. I was kept in the hospital for observation for another three days.
Was there another conversation with the doctor? Did he find an explanation?
During my observation stay, I spoke with the doctor again. He told me that this procedure should normally have been performed within two minutes of the onset of pain to avoid damage. At five minutes, it would have caused severe, permanent damage, and at seven minutes, no one had ever survived the condition. However, I went on for two weeks without feeling any real pain. Up until that point, he hadn't believed in miracles, but now he had to admit that there was a God. Because there was no other explanation.
Waldemar Brauer
In conclusion, we want to know: What can you say about our God? And what message can you give to the brothers who are out on the road today in the truck for the mission?
All I can say is that God is almighty and all-knowing. He is a God who still performs miracles today. Some of the truck drivers often ask me for advice when they're about to embark on a trip and want to know which route is best. This ministry isn't easy. When I first started driving, I didn't really understand how to deal with customs officials, for example. But I want them to trust in the Lord. We have a living God.
An interview with Waldemar Brauer
Municipality of Sottrum