Raped Twice, God Turned Into A Blessing Ella’s Testimony

Hello Brothers, Sisters, and Heartdwellers Family.

So, we are here in Ghana, and you guys have seen or some of the donors have been aware of Ella, a young lady whom I met here. The Lord has called her now to be a part of the Heartdwellers Africa organization and to support and help us in the ministry and with the locals since she grew up in this area—or at least had been in this area for a while. She has such a powerful, powerful testimony. Just meeting her for the first time—I saw her with her son here, Blessing. I noticed his eyes.

I was just walking, praying, and asking the Lord what it was that He wanted us to do. We had not started the City of God yet, so I just remember feeling led to walk and to pray a Rosary.

I was walking on the street by myself contemplating how we could help or how we could start something. I didn’t know where to turn or where to look. I had just gotten off the old website and had looked at a portion of the website where I had talked about helping single mothers. As I went out to pray, I was walking and saw this young lady and the two children she was with, and he just kept staring at me. So I just kept smiling and asked what his name was. She told me and then, we just got into a conversation—I asked her name, where’s their father, if she had a husband. She said she wasn’t married—that she is a single mother. As she continued to talk, she shared a lot with me concerning her struggle and the struggles of many single mothers. She lived just right next door to me. So, that day, Ella introduced me to six different families that we now support. So, she has been such a blessing not only to us, but also to many people here in this area just because of her heart. She could just as easily kept us to herself by just receiving help on her own, but that was never her intention. When she knew that we were here for a reason—for the cause of helping the poor and the needy she took us to others to help and to support them. So, we’re so excited to show you where she’s come from and what God has done in her life—and just her testimony.

Ella

Okay please, Good evening, guys. Please, my name is Ella Ahmed.

Mother Elisha

You could share about when your Mom got pregnant with you, what happened to her, and how your dad wanted her to abort.

Ella

So my mom met a guy. As their relationship was going on and my mom became pregnant with me. So, in the process, when my dad saw that my mom was pregnant with me, my dad said my mom should abort the baby—she should abort me. They took my mom to several hospitals to go and do the abortion. But later my mom found out the abortion did not succeed. So, later my dad said that he would kill my mom because he didn’t want the baby that she was carrying in her belly. They tried to do several abortions, but the baby did not come out. My mom had to run away. So when she ran away from that place to another place, she gave birth to me. When she gave birth to me in the hospital, it was with struggle and all things. So, through the process, I was born. And now the family members of my dad came and someone went and told the family that I resembled them a lot. Now that they came they wanted to take me back and stuff. But through the process, because of what they made my mom go through, my Grandma did not allow them to take me. My mom took me to Cape Coast. She got married to a Muslim man at Cape Coast. So now, I was staying with my Grandma. Later on, they came and picked me up in Accra and sent me to Cape Coast. I was staying with her and my stepfather. I did not take it easy at all like how, at times, he would treat my brothers and sisters, was not the way that he would treat me. [By that time] I had been through a lot.

Mother Elisha

Tell them about how they treated you—what did they let your siblings do that they would not let you do.

Ella

Like at times, maybe when I wake up, I have to do a whole lot of things, take a whole lot of responsibility before I would leave home to go to school. So, at times, when I got to school I was always late at school. I had to do many jobs before I got to school. My brothers and sisters were going to the best school in Cape Coast. But, as for me, I was not going to any popular school. I had to work before and after school. I would have to come back home—then go to the market after that, and come back and cook for my stepdad and the family before I could go to bed. So, I was not even having time for myself. Even if I needed something, Grandma was very afraid to approach my mom or my dad, or somebody. I was very afraid because anytime I tried to even say something, they would beat me. If I needed something, my mother would beat me out of anger. If I had a problem with my brother or my sister, normally said you have, um, like, ‘You shouldn’t do that to my son”, or “ You shouldn’t do that to my baby girl.” So…

Mother Elisha

She made you feel like you weren’t her child…

Ella

“Yes. So people normally ask, am I part of the family? Am I her daughter? And especially if something went missing at their home and they would accuse me of taking it. Maybe they would beat me. Later on, they would find out that it was not me who had taken it. So, through the process, my stepdad passed away. So I had to come to Accra to start something on my own because I was not having support even if I went to my mom, my mom was not there for me. It was my grandmother. My grandmom, too, passed away. So it was like, all hope was gone. I didn’t know where to start from.

So I had to come to Accra and start something. Through the process when I came here, I did not find it easy. So one day I met a guy. I was going to search for a job. When I was on my way, and one guy saw me. He asked me and I said I needed a job. The guy was like he had that job to give me—to offer me. A boutique job. We sat down and talked and discussed about it. I went to the place and saw the place. So, the guy decided to give me the job. I started doing the job. Through the process, the guy got interested in me. Like he wanted to get married to me and stuff. Because of how my parents treated me and stuff, I didn’t know where to start from. So I was afraid to take the guy home.

So through the process, I met a guy who said he was a pastor. He said I shouldn’t be afraid. I should trust in him. I told him about my story and everything. He was taking us as a spiritual daughter and son.

Mother Elisha

And how old was this pastor?

Ella

He said he was a pastor.

Mother Elisha

How old, how old was he?

Ella

I think like 40 years

Mother Elisha

And how old were you at that time?

Ella

At that time, I was 24 years. So, he came and at that time, I didn’t know anything about Christ because my background was Muslim. I didn’t know anything about Christ. So, he came and introduced Jesus Christ to me and shared the gospel with me. He made me to understand that should have [be comfortable with] him—anything that I needed, I should tell him and he would provide. I should treat him like a father that I had not had before. I said okay. So in any situation, I try to call this man and tell him. So one day, this guy and I had a problem

Mother Elisha

You mean the first guy.

Ella

The first guy had a problem so I had to leave to Cape Coast. My grandmom was not there so all hope was gone and I didn’t know where to start from. So I called this pastor guy to tell him that I had a problem with this guy I was staying with. He told me that I shouldn’t go back home. He had a place that he could send me to—to go and wait upon the Lord and pray. So, I decided to, I mean, take his advice because he was an older man—not knowing he was interested in me. I didn’t have any idea of it.

So he took me to a place called Prayer Camp. He came and registered me so I was staying there. So I went through a process… I started fasting. If I needed anything I would call him and stuff. So one day, he told me that after going through all the fasting, he told me that after everything, he would take me back to the guy—to apologize to the guy, you know where to take it from not knowing that all was a lie.

So I was there one day and he told me that he had a place me, so I should come. I followed him, it was a church. When we went, they gave me a scholarship. I was very disturbed. I told them that I don’t know anything about the gospel and I don’t have that calling. I’m not a pastor or a woman of God so I can’t attend that Bible School. They said they could see something in me so I should join. So they gave me that scholarship. I had to start everything. That pastor guy, too, was there. I didn’t know that he was telling me he had his own intentions about me. So one day we vacated—he said I should escort him to a friend’s place. We went there—the friend was not around midnight. He gave me a separate room. I went and slept there, and he had his own separate room that his friend gave him. So I was lying there—midnight—and the guy came from nowhere, tried to struggle with me and he raped me.

So, I got pregnant with Bless and I didn’t know where to go—I didn’t know where to start from

Mother Elisha

But you said you even had a dream, though…

Ella

Yeah, I had a dream that he forced me—I saw myself in a room—that he came into the room and forced me. And in the same dream, he raped me. So that following day, I went to him straight and accused him that I saw him in my dream. You came and forced me and raped me. He started giving me insults, a whole lot of them. So we fought. People were there but they could not understand what was going on. Some people said I don’t respect and stuff. But then, I was naïve so I didn’t understand anything. Maybe I should have discussed it with some of the pastors but I kept it.

So, the dream came to pass in my life. So now I got pregnant with Blessing, my first son. I wanted to go home…sorry, in the school now, the pastors were trying to find out and he tried to keep my mouth shut. That I shouldn’t say anything to them. If I tried, maybe his job, everything..umm, I don’t know…

Mother Elisha

Yeah, would be gone?

Ella

Yeah, would be gone. His dream, everything would be gone. I had to keep it to myself. So I came and discussed it with one of her disciples. So I told the woman…and the woman told me the pastor’s intention about me. The pastor told them that I was his wife. And I said, no, how can I be his wife because I have a man in my life. That was what the pastor her before. So she was not surprised about it. So now, they convinced me and took me back to the school and took all of my belongings—everything—I was very scared—very afraid to tell them what had transpired. They had to bring me back. I don’t know, I was very afraid and I don’t know where to start. So, I told them I wanted to abort the baby. The pastor guy told me that, even in this life, if a madman rapes you and you get pregnant, don’t think you can abort the baby because a baby is a blessing from God. I believed him and he said he would help me. So I got pregnant and after six month a natal before so I had to go to one of his friends—one of his pastors and discuss everything with them and they called him before I started going to a natal. So they promised me that they would take care of me. Because he’s a pastor, they would let him marry me. So I should go and stay with him. So later, if I give birth they would go and see my family member and do whatever they have to do. I didn’t know all was a lie—all was a deceit.

Mother Elisha

So what happened

Ella

So, I followed him and now he came and dumped me in a prayer camp. So I was staying there. So, I had the baby, and he came, saying that he had a place around…not knowing he was not having a place. I gave birth to Bless and I have and I was not having a place to sleep. I was roaming about. One woman saw me, called Auntie Esther. She tried to help me. She gave me a place to go and sleep with the baby. For one week, the lady, too, got upset with me, that I should leave her room and now I don’t know where to start. So I had to go to a place called Betiano. To go and sleep at an uncompleted room. No door, no window, lying down—nothing. Even with nothing, nothing—with the baby. So, everybody that would see me was very confused about the whole issue.

Mother Elisha

So where was this pastor guy?

Ella

Later on he came to where I was. So, if I tried to speak out, the pastor said I shouldn’t talk to anybody.

Mother Elisha

When was the time you said he got a knife and threatened to kill you?

Ella

When I got pregnant with sister, the small one.

Mother Elisha

So when he would come around, you guys got intimate or he pushed himself on you.

Ella

That one too, he pushed himself on me because I came to understand that if you are born again you shouldn’t fornicate. I came to understand that. So this guy was telling me that because I have a son with him, I’m his wife. So, if we do that, it is not fornication. I said no. And he tried to…because I was not having that thing with him, he said I go out and sleep with men. So I’m a prostitute. So he forced himself on me and raped me again. Unfortunately for me I was not lucky and I got pregnant with a lady called Grace, sister… So then I tried to speak out so people around the neighborhood would see the kind of person he is. He tried to pull a knife on me. He threatened me, to kill me. Even friends came and I had a witness over there, Auntie and some woman. Everybody was afraid so one woman helped me to escape from that area—to run away. Two friends helped me with money to go back to Cape Coast, to my parents and tell them everything.

When I went home, because now I’m born again, they rejected me. So I had to come back to Accra and come back to stay back in the prayer center. So through praying and someone gave me one room—uncompleted room. So I was staying there with the kids.

Mother Elisha

So you also mentioned that you met your dad, before you had the kids, and he also tried to kill you.

Ella

Yes. Before having the kids, I had met my dad and he also had threatened to kill me. If I were to call him, he would kill me. So, I didn’t know where to start from [where to go from there]. My life, everything…I was confused in this life. I was really suffering. Even how I [would] eat; even how I would clothe myself and the kids. It was very hard for me. Things were very difficult for me and I didn’t know what to do. It even crossed my mind to take my life because things were very difficult. It was like, everything, everyone that I knew really rejected me. Everything. Even the people around, the neighbors, the neighborhood people, everybody. How even they treat me, how even they talked to me. At times you go and work for someone and the person would not even pay you. The pain and the suffering that I have really passed through.

But Glory Be to God! That is when I met Mother Elisha with Daddy Derrick, and my story changed! Everything about me changed.

One day, early in the morning, I was going…someone called me to come and do her hair for her. So, on my way [there], my first son, Blessing started crying. I wanted to pass another direction. This boy kept crying that no, we should pass on the road.

Mother Elisha

Wow! Look at the Lord. So, you wanted to go a different direction and you would never have met me. So, your son kept crying, wanting to go in the direction where I was.

Ella

Yes, yes, that is it. So, I was confused. I was even annoyed. I wanted to beat him. So I said, “No, let me listen to the boy.” So I listened to him and I followed that direction. So we were coming home and, even that day, I was even thinking, the following morning, what would I eat with the kids? Even my soul was really troubled. I didn’t know what to do and didn’t know how to go, where to start from.

So, as we were coming I met Mother Elisha. She approached me and my son and she said, “What is the name of your son?” I said he’s called, “Blessing”. She said she was from American Missionaries. She came to Ghana to do something—the Lord sent her to Ghana to help people. And she asked me, “Where is your husband?” I said, I don’t have one. I’m a single mother. She asked me again, “Where are you staying?” I showed her where I was staying. Then she decided to go but she came back and said, no, the Lord was talking to her—talking to her, through my son. Like, Jesus was talking any time she looked into Blessing’s eyes, it was like Jesus was talking to her.

Now, she came to me and asked me, what do I want to do. I said I wanted to cook and sell food. So, she told me that I should go and show her where I was staying. She said they were helping single parents who are in need. I said, okay, then I have a few friends—they too, are in need. Things are very tough.

She’s a very lovely person. Very kind and good person, sent from God. I thank God for their lives. Her and her husband. I thank God for their lives. If it was not for them, by now, maybe I would have taken my life, and taken even the kids’ lives because it came to a point where I had to beg for food, beg for money. Before, maybe me and the kids eat…

Mother Elisha

You’re also taking care of your brother…

Ella

…And my brother too, taking care of my brother, too. So it was not easy for me. So, all of these things—I was not a happy person. If you saw me there, I was not a happy person. Like everything was fighting back against me and I don’t know… So one day, God smiled at me.

Mother Elisha

Amen. He’s always been smiling at you. Yeah, this is such a testimony. So, what do you have to share now concerning—I mean, being a Muslim, and then coming to Christianity and going through, like hell, literally… You gave your life to Jesus, you lost everything. Going through hell, but then seeing God’s faithfulness and how He speaks to you, and how what a friend He’s been. What do you have to share with anyone who’s watching , who may be going through the same situation—you or who may not even know Jesus. And, just the impact Christ has had in your life.

Ella

What I will say [is] that, in any situation, give thanks to the Lord. Never give up. Any situation that you find yourself in, I will tell you never give up because I know the Word of the Lord has said, even in times of trouble, He is with us. So you will think that maybe you are passing through all those things, the Lord has not seen. He has really seen what you are passing through. But there is a time for everything, the Bible has said it, there is time for weeping, there is time for laughing. So, if today, maybe you are passing through something, I will tell you that your time will come. God’s time is the best. He has His own time of doing things—the [appointed] time of doing things. And if He starts doing His things, it is very beautiful—[so] beautiful that there is no question mark. Everybody will see and just be shocked. That is what happens to me, because people did not think what was me, Ella—[even that I would have] a good place to sleep. Or even my kids now go to school. Even my mom who rejected me, that I was no one, today, even my brothers and sisters who thought that I was no one—today, they call on me and with Christ Jesus. At first things when I was a Muslim, a whole lot of things happened, and now, that I saw Christ, things have really changed.

At first I had a dream that my grandmom collected my pen from me, so that if you give me a book, I can’t even read and write. But, when I found myself through the grace of the Lord, I saw that with prayer all things are possible. Now the Lord has really helped me. Now I have regained my understanding and am able to read and write. I really thank God.

I was not expecting even to be here—I was not expecting anything like this. But, God has been so good to me, that I don’t even know what to say.

So, if you are out there or you are listening to me, I want to tell you that there is a time for everything—the appointed time— God will do it for you too, Amen

Mother Elisha

Thank you so much, Ella, for sharing.

And thank you, Heartdwellers family, I hope you guys enjoyed this. It’s such a powerful, powerful testimony of truly, brokenness, betrayal, and then redemption. God’s able to restore and redeem everything. And just the mere fact that she is able to serve and love God—when a Christian pastor is the one who raped her. We thank the Lord that she has forgiven that man and we’re praying for him as well, and that she can be such a testimony. When she speaks, when she prays for people, it’s so powerful. And she has been such a blessing, like I said, to so many others. Because she has known lack, she’s able to now reachout, extend, and always wants to help those, especially mothers who have no one to help them.

Ella has been more than a friend—but like a sister. As a missionary sent to my home country, and met with all manner of opposition and trials I couldn’t dream of, the Lord brought her to be a blessing to me, to pray for me, to pray with me, to carry my arms when I was weary, and to push me to keep going in the most painful and dark moments. In my loneliness, He brought a friend. She has helped us with the outreach.

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She helped us to help so many others. She is the reason why twenty-six children are now in school and they have their school fees paid. She is a soul truly on fire for the Lord. She has been through the fire, to be set on fire.

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He wanted to bless her with her own place, and so that’s what you guys saw, her own apartment. It’s been a year since we have known her and walking along side with her. We just felt strongly that the Lord wanted us to bless her.

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Because of your donations, we were able to put Ella into this wonderful apartment, her first-ever living space apartment. She doesn’t have any items just yet. This is the livingroom, the bathroom. They took $940 for this place, for a whole year. This is the kitchen. This is the bedroom. This is where she has all her items. There is no bed here. We want to be able to get her a bed, a little bit of furniture, and even a stove, she has no stove. She cooks on this crow pot because we haven’t been able to purchase a stove just yet.

So Ella is just the first of many we want to help. Now, in her place, as you saw, she has no bed, she has no stove, she has no dresser—and Ghana is so expensive. A stove is about $400, a mattress, not even a bed, one mattress is about $150 as well. Her income is about $180 every month. That’s a really high income as she’s working with us, as well, volunteering, or actually our first employee as a Heartdwellers Africa employee here. So, she doesn’t make that much at all. Just to buy one mattress, and there are four of them here. So, We’re sharing this video in hopes that somebody willing to sponsor her and her family and to be able to get the necessary [things] so she would be able to do more of the ministry with us and to do more of the ministry to help other people well.

So we will have it on the website as we’re preparing the website for a Heartdweller to be available to sponsor children and sponsor families here in Ghana—that she will be one of the first. So, thank you guys for hearing her testimony. God bless you, family and I hope you guys are blessed by this. Thank you Ella

Ella

Welcome. God bless you all too. Amen.