Out of great gratitude for all that Christian Science has done for me I offer this testimony, hoping it may help others as I have so often been helped myself by the published testimonies. Many years ago, while residing in Chile, I became very ill with constant headaches. At times they were so severe that I was given a strong drug in order that I might have some hours free from pain. One day I saw the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in the house of a friend I was visiting. Then I recalled many discussions I had heard about this book, some in favor of it and many against it. But I also remembered having heard that it healed people; so I asked permission to take the book home with me and read it for myself, thinking it might help me to forget my ills. I was scoffingly told that it was not worth reading, but I took it; and I may add that it was never returned.
Shortly after this visit I joined my husband in some heavy garden work at our week-end cottage. After some time I felt my arm aching; so I ceased work. I saw that a large lump had appeared on my arm. The next day I visited my doctor, who did all he could to heal it, but the condition grew gradually worse, till I could not move my fingers without pain. Then my husband suggested that I visit a surgeon. This alarmed me, for I had already had three major operations and felt I could not face even a small one. That night a voice seemed to say to me, Take the Christian Science book and read it; it has healed others and it can heal you. I started to read it, and while doing so, I fell asleep. In the morning when I awoke I was without pain.
I was so surprised and startled that I rushed to my husband to tell him I had been healed through reading the Christian Science textbook. He sternly rebuked me and told me not to talk nonsense. When I saw his displeasure over the idea of my studying the book seriously, I kept the glad news of my healing to myself and read in secret, but with growing interest. My friends knew little of Christian Science, and they ridiculed it; but I knew that I had found the pearl of great price and forthwith gave up social activities and studied the textbook with the idea of learning more of this wonderful religion.
