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Finding Healing Through PathwayConnect

How PathwayConnect helped Nandipha Xamane find healing through forgiveness

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In January 2018, Nandipha Xamane and her husband separated after intense trials hit their marriage, leaving her with three boys to care for and a broken heart to mend. Lost and wounded, she pleaded for God to send her guidance during this trial.

Nandipha and her family
Nandipha and her husband with two of their boys

At church one Sunday, service missionaries assigned to BYU-Pathway visited Nandipha’s local ward in Mdantsane, South Africa, and shared about a new Church educational program called PathwayConnect.

Nandipha was drawn to the program because she liked studying and it would keep her from thinking about her husband. When her husband left, the financial burden fell on her. She had to work twice as much to pay the bills and make many sacrifices to provide for her children.

Despite the financial struggle, Nandipha felt strongly that continuing her education was the next step in her life. So even with her many responsibilities, Nandipha decided to enroll in PathwayConnect for the following April. Little did she know, God had sent her a light to guide her on her path to healing.

The words of the Apostles brought about a change

In the first few weeks of class, Nandipha was amazed by the classes, especially her religious reading assignments. She felt the Lord speaking to her, giving her strength to face her trials.

Nandipha’s sons
Nandipha’s sons

As she read her weekly assignments, she felt that two talks—one by James E. Faust and another by Joseph B. Wirthlin—spoke directly to her. She was prompted to do something that she never thought she could do.

“Making perfect choices all of the time is not possible,” Elder Faust said. “But it is possible to make good choices we can live with and grow from.… Tomorrow’s blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today,” 1
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1. James E. Faust, “Choices,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 51
“It’s easy to be distracted and lose focus on the things that are most important in life,” Elder Wirthlin said. “I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals … And then keep your eye on them.” 2
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2. Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Life’s Lessons Learned,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 45

As Nandipha reflected and pondered on these Apostles’ words, she felt in her heart that they were true.

Nandipha with her son
Nandipha with her son

“What choices do I have to make today?” Nandipha thought. This question reminded her of a line from a Church hymn, “Do what is right; let the consequence follow.” 3
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3. “Do What is Right,” Hymns, no. 237

Nandipha realized that making right choices required trust in Jesus Christ. With that trust, she decided that the right choice to make that day was to forgive her husband.

The power of forgiveness

Nandipha asked her husband to come to her work place. When he arrived, she approached him with a big smile and told him she was done fighting with him. She had forgiven him for all the pain he had caused her.

Because of Nandipha’s change of heart, her husband wanted to know for himself what it was that she was experiencing in PathwayConnect. So, with her help, he enrolled in PathwayConnect for the following semester.

After just five weeks of PathwayConnect, Nandipha’s husband started to make small changes, such as calling and visiting her and their boys. Although their family still faces challenges, Nandipha found the healing she needed through PathwayConnect to press forward.

“PathwayConnect has the power to heal and change people’s lives,” Nandipha said. “My testimony has grown much stronger, and my conversion is deeper than it was before.”

PathwayConnect has the power to heal and change people’s lives.

Nandipha’s husband with their sons
Nandipha’s husband with their sons

After completing PathwayConnect, Nandipha hopes to earn a BYU-Idaho online degree in marriage and family studies, coordinated and presented through BYU-Pathway. Find out how PathwayConnect can help you in your life!