In reality, my life is a divine miracle. More than 25 years ago I became acquainted with the remnant church in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I was born in Honduras, but now live in Panama.
The brethren of the SDA Reform Movement were just beginning the work in Honduras, and a brother from Peru by the name of Silvestre Cabanillas, who was traveling by bus, tried to initiate a friendly conversation with me. The meeting place for worship was three blocks away from my house. So, on various occasions we met on the bus. This brother, whom I specially prize, was very insistent. One day while on the bus, he asked me if knew the Word of God, and I answered Yes, and that I had a Jerusalem Bible, and delighted to read it because reading was my special hobby. Then he asked me if I would accept a visit in my home to study the Word. I told him that I would ask permission from my family.
After consulting my family, they acceded to the request. This brother came to my house with his Bible. Then I realized that it was not the same as mine, and I became very worried. Very many questions were asked of Brother Cabanillas, and he was able to answer all of them, and I realized that he was quite knowledgeable and that I really knew nothing of what I believed. In the evenings, although tired, I could not sleep because he had spoken to me about Sabbathkeeping, health reform, and about all the ten commandments. I was impressed with the knowledge of that man. We made a holy friendship, and he invited me to visit his home. There I met his wife, Teresita, and his son, Daniel. Our friendship was so close that I felt myself as a part of that family. There I attended many of their meetings and I learned a lot. There I began to be a vegetarian. God was being wonderful to me. But Satan does not sleep. A theologian from the SDA Church visited me in my house and invited me to a series of cultural lectures. As I had a desire to increase my education, I fell into their net, together with my family. As they baptize people without any preparation, they immersed me in the water, and I believed that I was in the right place. I left my work as an educator in the school, and they offered me employment in their college, and thus I was sent to Panama. Here in Panama I got married, and I have a son born in the SDA Church. He is very well educated, and I am praying that he may come to the remnant church.
So, for a while I lost sight of the remnant church. By God’s great mercy, I also met others from the Reform Movement: Bro. C. Palazzolo in Honduras, as well as Brethren F. Devai, J. Romero and E. Cabanillas.
Christ sought me and found me. Here in Panama there were no members of the Reform Movement. But a little over two years ago, Bro. Francisco Rodrigues moved to this country. He has two children. He tried to locate my address, until Bro. Gerson Barros came to Panama and brought my address from my family in Honduras. They called me up and I told them that we could meet in the SDA Church where I was attending. On that Sabbath I was assigned to lead out in the Sabbath school meeting. They came there and everything started anew, for the glory of the Lord. Brother Rodrigues did not leave me alone. He continued with studies, and I must say that it was not hard for me to understand the doctrine because I love reading. The Spirit of Prophecy was the help that kept me faithful in the SDA Church for 25 years. I held positions in different departments of the church, but I acted mostly in the missionary work, going from house to house. It is painful to me that many souls are left there in the wrong place. It was not easy to face the great pastors of the church and show them their errors and mistakes, but the Lord gave me power to tell them that if they do not change they will be lost.
The study which was presented by Bro. Rodrigues—and that impressed me deeply—was the subject of the sealing of the 144,000, because I had learned it in a different way. Another point was the subject of the organization of God’s church according to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. But what most worried me and caused me pain was when Bro. Rodrigues showed me in the Spirit of Prophecy that the presence of God is no longer leading the SDA Church as a body.
I then said: Why tarriest thou, Bertha Rosa Diaz de Howell? Arise, redeem the time, and be baptized. And here I am very happy. I was baptized on October 20, 1997, and on Sabbath, the 25th we had a very blessed Lord’s supper. Thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ I am now a part of God’s family here on earth.
Bro. Rodrigues has made a close friendship with my husband, and I hope that some day in the near future he and our son, Elijah, may belong to this peculiar people.
Here the work is in its beginning. Bro. Rodrigues has much to do. There are many new people interested in the message. We need a colporteur or someone who volunteers to do missionary work and help Bro. Rodrigues to do the service that angels would delight to do.
I thank God from all my heart for His great love and mercy, but I thank also Bro. Rodrigues and all those who in one way or another helped the brethren to find me, especially Bro. Palazzolo who has known my family for a long time. May God help us all to be faithful and holy, and that nothing and nobody should sever us from the great love of Christ. Amen.