Beauty queen advertises for the sky

Paul and Paula grew up together in Alaska. They were already friends as children. Paula was very intelligent. She graduated with honours. After graduating, Paul went to Arizona for work. Paula took part in a beauty contest and won. She became Miss Alaska. Many doors opened for her. Important relationships developed. She became a model and opened her own modelling agency. She took part in fashion shows all over the USA and led an exciting life. Then she was offered a job in the White House. She worked for the US Senate. Even more doors opened for her.

Paul became a Christian and an Adventist during this time. Now he began to pray for Paula. Whenever he came home to Alaska, they studied the Bible together and Paula went to church with him. Afterwards, she had another fashion show in New York, had photographs taken for a magazine in Los Angeles or had to return to the Senate. She had a full diary. Paula was beautiful and rich and had great influence, but she didn't know Jesus as her personal Saviour. So Paul continued to pray for her. One Christmas Day, Paul received a letter from Paula. „I want to tell you that I am overjoyed because I have accepted Christ as my Saviour. I feel so good and safe with God.“ The next sentence was: „I pray that God will help me to love him and others the way he does.“ Paul was very happy about Paula's decision. Everywhere she went, she talked about her faith.

When she turned thirty, she developed serious health complications as she had suffered from diabetes since childhood. She went to the best medical centres. There she always asked the management to allow her to speak to the terminally ill about faith. People were close to death from cancer or leukaemia. US President Reagan heard about her work and sent her a personal letter of congratulations. Although she was in pain, she told many people about her faith.

When she was 33 years old, she had to undergo 20 operations at the University of Michigan Hospital. After that, nothing more could be done for her. She was told that she was going to die. She asked to be allowed to speak to the patients one last time. They gathered to say goodbye to her. The doctors and nurses also took part. She was wheeled in a wheelchair to the waiting people. She said: „In the world, people run around as if it will go on forever. We, on the other hand, have a special blessing from God. God has called us out so that we can prepare for heaven. Because we are sick and close to dying, we have time to pause and prepare for heaven. I am now going home to die. We will never see each other again. I ask you to accept Jesus as your Saviour. Then we will meet again in heaven. For now, I say to you: farewell. I will pray for your decision.“

She was brought home to Alaska on the plane. They made her as comfortable as possible at home. She was very weak and weighed only 45kg. She continued to read the Bible and pray. She especially prayed for her mother, who had not yet made a full decision for Jesus. Her diabetes continued to progress. Paula became completely blind. She accepted her blindness as a final blessing from God. As she could no longer read the Bible, she asked her mother to read it to her. She was happy to do so. So her mother read to her every day, page after page and chapter after chapter. Paula prayed intensely for her mother.

One Thursday morning, Mum suddenly stopped reading. She looked at Paula. She was no longer moving. Trembling, she put the Bible aside. She walked slowly to Paula. Paula had a smile on her face. She had died. Her mother hugged her one last time and said through her tears: „My child. I have accepted Jesus as my Saviour. We will meet again in heaven. You will be beautiful and healthy there. Thank you for showing me life in your blindness. I promise you, we will meet again. Goodbye for now. I love you very much.“

Paul talked about Paula everywhere: „Yes, this life offers money, fame and power. But that doesn't last. Paula found out what really matters. She found the love of God. I look forward to the day when I can see my friend again. Make the most of your time. Use it wisely.“