The words of Psalm 139:13-18 played over and over in my mind. Twice, I had almost met with death. Before I was born, my mother was on the verge of a miscarriage. Then, at the age of 6, I was knocked unconscious by a school bus. The doctors pronounced me as good as dead. But despite the doctors’ grim assessment, a pastor who was praying for me prophesied that I would live.

I considered these events, and knew that my life was no accident…so I dedicated it to God.

In 1974, I completed my studies at the Bible College of Wales. I was currently teaching Sunday school and broadcasting two 15-minute Christian radio programs a month for children. I asked the Lord to guide me into the field of ministry He had planned for me. Opening my Bible one day, I came upon Mark 10:14: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

In 1996, my sister, who was a mere 38 years old and a mother of two young daughters, was called home to heaven. I was overcome with grief and loneliness. Night after night I cried myself to sleep. I attempted to pray, but the sorrow would not lift.

The Lord finally spoke to me through the autobiography of Corrie ten Boom. When her sister, Betsie, died in a concentration camp during the Nazi regime, the Lord told Corrie to be a sister to others. I knew that God was calling me to do the same.

I became optimistic, believing that God had prepared some wonderful friends to take the place of my beloved sister. Little did I know, that the sisters the Lord had for me were the street women: the drug addicts and the prostitutes.