My Conversion Story

Spiritual Journey of Borna Das

from Kolkata (CMC Vellore graduate)

My Family Background

My family is a very strong Hindu family. So, from my childhood itself I was much interested in reading scriptures. I always used to carry a small Gita in my bag and used to read in my free time. I finished many scriptures even when I was just in high school. And as I kept reading, I always used to ask questions. But as in Hinduism, like many other religions, women are supposed to be inferior to men and they are not supposed to ask many questions. Whenever I asked questions, I got a reply saying " why can't you just believe/ you don't have faith/ you are not supposed to ask many questions ".

My Search for God

So that was my childhood. I remember I used to read not just about Hindu books, I also read Quran, read about other forms of religious beliefs and different spiritualisms. But as I kept asking questions, and never really got any answer, slowly I started losing my faith in God. I was searching for Him, but couldn't find Him in those scriptures, and many principles found in Gita were unrealistic when I tried to practise. It was like a helpless condition and at this point, I became an atheist, thinking there was no God or at least He was not interested in mere humans as it seemed to me like the whole idea of religions were left to humans, for us to figure out on our own. In Hiduism also, we have the concept of salvation but it was purely by work alone, just like in Islam. And as I had many doubts without an answer, and many failed attempts to live up to the requirements of the "salvation by work principle", after a point I really gave up. God became a fictional character and I had nothing much to do with Him.

First Personal Contact with Christians

This point in my life, in 2012, I got into MBBS in CMC Vellore. I never really had any Christian associations before coming to CMC. I'm from Kolkata and the city is full of mixed culture people, but out whole idea of Christianity was that they were a bunch of people who wear western dresses and go to church on Sunday, and eat cake and have wine party on 25th December. I know that was sad but that's the kind of Christians we have around us. Anyway, so coming to CMC for me was like another opportunity to know about another religion as I was already interested to learn about religions. So,first time I ever stepped inside a church was when our batch had a welcome ceremony in St. John church as a CMC tradition. And I really liked it. Because in Hinduism, before we pray, we have to wash our clothes, take bath, do Puja, chant mantra, bring flower and candles and incense etc just to present your prayer before the idols. And in special cases, you have to even hire a priest so that the idol can hear your prayer better. But what I really liked was that in Church, everyone was praying just as they were. Talking to God was like talking to a friend for them, which I felt was amazing. But that was it, I never thought I would go back to church again.

My Dream

Few months down the course, one afternoon I was sleeping in my room and I had a dream. Where I saw myself playing on a seashore. As I was playing with my classmates, i suddenly heard someone calling me from behind. As i turned, I realised that was God. How I realised, I don't know. But I knew that it was God whom I was searching for all this while. He asked me to leave everything and follow Him. And I left everything and went to Him and hugged Him. Oh, the peace I experienced when I was with Him! I don't think I was ever so peaceful in my life and I don't think I would ever experience that peace in the rest of my life till I reach heaven. As I started walking with Him, I woke up from my sleep. The dream was so vivid in my mind, that immediately I knew that it was no ordinary dream. So, I called up my dad and told him about the dream. They couldn't interpret. I told some friends, but nobody could help me. Again, I was in doubt and without an answer. But in heart, I knew that it was God who came to my dream and started praying to Him to reveal Himself to me, without really knowing who He was.

Invitation from Different Churches

During this time, some of my friends started inviting me to their church services and I started going to different churches. Somebody got me a bible also and I read some bit. That made me question even more, but again there was nobody to answer my doubts. This continued few more months when I started losing my interest in attending churches and I thought that I would stop visiting churches. Till this time my parents knew about my interest in Christianity but they were happy for me thinking that I'm just a broad- minded inquisitive person trying to learn about different religions. But in my heart, I was searching God.

Adventist Church

Then came new year, and one of my classmates (Foo Ee Onn) prayed as her new year resolution that God should bring at least one of her classmates to church. She was a seventh day Adventist. I had no idea about her, she wasn't my friend and I knew nothing about this prayer. But 2 weeks after her prayer, I went and asked her if I could come to her church one day. I don't know why I did that, may be because the following Saturday was republic day and I got a holiday. She was surprised but anyway took me along. When I first time went to SDA church, nothing was different except people were really warm and they invited me again. So, I went for the Friday meeting on the following week. And for the first time in my life, I felt God was answering my doubts. As I mentioned before that I had many doubts. God actually answered some of my doubts through the sermons, and the songs. I never felt like that before and I decided to continue visiting the church. Saturday was a working day for me and I used to go only for the Friday service. That continued till I started my second year of MBBS.

The Sabbath

As I started my second year, one morning I woke up and prayed that I want to surrender my whole life to God and obey Him alone. I didn't understand the magnitude of my prayer. As a start reading my bible that morning, God directed me to Romans 6:16. I couldn't really understand the meaning of the verse but, as that was a Saturday and I had a holiday on that day, I decided to go to church. As a stepped inside the church, some session was going on and the preacher said "if you really want to obey God, keep 10 commandments ". It was so direct, as if he was telling me only. I didn't really know 10 commandments that time. So, I opened my bible, searched for it and as I kept reading, I thought I was keeping all of it anyway. Afterall, I was a good person I thought. I was not a murderer, not a thief, not committing adultery. But as I was contemplating and didn’t realise that the whole sermon was over without me listening to any bit of it, and I was about to leave the church. But suddenly one kid came running to me, and she asked me, " why didn't you come to church last Saturday? Don't you know you are supposed to keep Sabbath?" I was shocked. first of all, I didn't know who that kid was and I was surprised that she had the audacity to talk to me like that! But immediately I knew, it wasn't actually her, it was God teaching me about 10 commandments and I totally missed the 4th commandment even though it started with "Remember "! So, I went back to my room. I prayed to God that if He really wanted me to keep His commandments, He should make it clear by giving me 3 signs before next Sabbath. Afterall I wasn't a Christian, why would He expect me to keep His commandments anyway?

Problem with Class Attendance

During that week, I got 9 signs from Bible regarding the commandment of Sabbath keeping. Every time I prayed and asked God to show me what to do, He directed me to Sabbath keeping. It was triple the amount of signs I asked for. As it was very clear, I knew this decision is going to change my life forever. I was worried about many things. I told my family and surprisingly they told me that if God wants me to do something, I should do it. I guess they didn't know what else to say and they didn't realise that I was about to change my faith for the rest of my life. Anyway, with my heart burdened with worries about my future, I asked God if He would take care of me if I start following Him. That was so silly but I didn't know whom I was about to follow. Could I really trust the God I didn't know, in just one week’s time? I didn't know God, but He knew me. He gave another 6 signs from Bible before that Sabbath and this time it's all about His promises to take care of me if only I follow Him. I was sure of my calling in that one week. But there was one problem, since I was not an SDA and on Saturday, I was supposed to attend classes, I would be losing attendance and all the tests on Saturdays. So that Friday morning I went to meet my principal to ask her if I could start attending church on Saturday instead of going to classes. She said I was not even a Christian, let alone being an SDA. So, they won't give me any official off and I had to miss my attendance. She also told me that there was no difference between Saturday and Sunday. If at all I'm interested in attending churches, I should find out something that won't affect my studies. She was sincere and spoke to me having my best interest in heart. But I knew God had a different plan. I came back that night and prayed and God gave me a verse from Bible- Ezekiel 22:26. God's intention was clear and it was above human wisdom, so I decided to follow Him.

God’s Assurance

But on Sabbath day, I had a test on orthopaedic. That morning I woke up, I knew perfectly what God wanted me to do, but I didn't know what to tell my parents for not writing the test. What excuse could I come up with? They wanted me to follow God, but I was sure whether they appreciate me not attending the classes or going for exams. So, I prayed again. And God comforted me from Bible that He would take care of me. I informed one of my classmates that I won't be going for the test as I would be going to church. No other explanation But as I went to church that day, I knew my life was changing forever.

God Kept His Promise

On Monday following the Sabbath, as I went to meet our in charge for the orthopaedic posting, just to give an explanation of why I didn't write the test without any prior notice, he handed over a paper to me before I could say anything. It was the marks of all my classmates who attended the orthopaedic test on that Sabbath. As I saw my name, I got 70%. I told the doctor that there was a mistake in the marks because I didn't even attend the test, “how can I get 70%?” He told me that he had given me marks based on the previous test I wrote during that posting. Because I did so well in the previous test, so he had given me 70% in this test even though I didn't even write the test! I told him he can't do that, that's not how it should work! I was really stupid as you can see! But he told me "it's my wish, what's your problem! Get lost!" Though I was thankful to him, I thought he was crazy. I passed that test without even writing it. But as I walked back to my hostel that day, I realised that it was God who was keeping His promise through him. Same craziness happened when I got 100% attendance for my obstetric posting in final year even when I missed all my Saturday classes.

Epilogue

So my story continues even to this day when He keeps giving me surprises by keeping His promise of taking care of me. As I walk with Him, I can see His goodness and faithfulness every day And I know that He would provide even the smallest of my needs. Thank God:)

Borna Das

Kolkata Victoria Museum

Busy street in Kolkata

Howrah Bridge

Yvonne Foo

Yvonne Foo Hi everyone ,I am so blessed to read this testimony that she has written..I am her batchmate, a Malaysian SDA. When I read this, I can't help but would like to share about small little things and thought it might be encouraging.
The story where Borna came to Christ was very inspiring. when we entered CMC..she was one of my roommate in my first week..she was known the be the girl who had a big statue on her cupboard. I used to be amazed how many times she was praying to her 'God' everyday..however my other roommates who are Christians would invite her whenever we have a pre bed time prayer together.. That was the first time she read a verse from the Bible , but obviously she didn't know what they meant until she came to know Christ. But God is good..she was my answered prayer when she asked me if she could come to church with me..since then we've gone through a lot of spiritual experiences together..I've seen how God been leading her step by step to him since 2013.and her faith strengthens me each time.
She faced a lot of stress from family and friends with her conversion to SDA . As her background is deeply rooted with Hinduism, she faced challenges but she always overcome it with her faith in God.

Something still very fresh from my mind in our medical school
I still remember one Sabbath evening, when she asked me after we came back from church.
She said : Yvonne, do you have an iron rod, I said : what are you going to do with an iron rod?
She said she was going to break all the idol statue that she had in her room.(i knew the statue was a memorable one for her and it's precious as it was a gift by her teacher.)
I asked why .
she said : I read from the Bible and know that God was asking her to throw away all the idols in her life if I want to follow Him.

"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Psalms 2:9
I was very surprised and deep down in my heart was touched by her faith.
Soon later ,we found a rod..not sure if it was made of iron exactly. Haha..but at last the statue,it was broken into pieces..
Since that day till now, I still remind myself that each one of us have idols in our lives which we have to break in order to follow God. Borna's testimony tells

Currently she is still active in church serving God, she will be facing her counselling soon which might lead her back to CMC Vellore or not..please pray for God's guidance in her life.may God bless each one of you.

Yvonne Foo