Carry Slee books, the eight-volume The Seven Sistersseries or thrillers by Dan Brown can be found in countless mini libraries. Not in that of Sija Snoei (51) from Werkendam. Her cupboard only contains Bibles and Christian books. “I want to start a Jesus revolution.”
A children’s Bible with stories from the Old and New Testament, a biography about a Christian missionary and a booklet about the life of Jesus Christ are stacked in a miniature house on the Sleeuwijksedijk in Werkendam. ‘To achieve a close relationship with God forever and ever’, it says below.
It is the mini library of Sija Snoei, who lives in a stately villa on the dike. By placing only Bibles and books about the Lord Jesus in her mini library, she hopes to create a more loving world. “If we consider Jesus the most important thing, then we will get rid of our ego. It is the only way to peace. I wish that for everyone.”
‘Jesus is the basis’
The Christian book collection is now somewhat limited, Sija apologizes. The humid weather led to a moldy Word of God, so she had to put a plastic bag full of Bibles in the trash.
“Jesus is love and that is a fantastic feeling that the whole world should have.”
But the mini library will soon be restocked, the Christian librarian promises. She has a strong urge to tell about the Messiah and spread love for Him. “Jesus is the source of my life, the basis for which I live,” she says at her kitchen table.
Turnaround in her life
The Holy Scriptures offered the 51-year-old Werkendammer much comfort seven years ago. Due to family circumstances, Sija went through a lonely period, during which she prayed a lot to God and read the Bible. “It was one big psychology book with so much wisdom in it. Jesus is love and that is a fantastic feeling that the whole world should have, no matter how tough your life is.”
With every page she read, her love for Him grew. “That was so big and deeply in my heart and being,” she looks back on that period. It was a turning point in the life of Sija, who grew up in a strictly religious family with twelve children.
The Werkendam ‘evangelist’ eventually regained the freedom that she did not feel within her faith in her youth. She now goes to church every Thursday evening and Sunday morning. “To pray for the good of humanity,” she says.
Missionary in India
She has also been a mini librarian for four years. Sija does not dare to say how much use is made of her mini library. “But every now and then people stop on the dike in the evening to pick up a book.”
She is also sometimes texted or called, because her telephone number is at the mini library. That brought her into contact with a man who is a missionary in India. “He hands out food parcels there and tells children about Jesus. He has a very servant heart.”
“I want to start a Jesus revolution and magnify God.”
For now, Sija is sticking to her mini library. She hopes to start a ‘Jesus revolution’ in Werkendam, she says laughing. “That we will take care of everyone around us and magnify God.”
