#RandfonteinShow: Guest speaker spent 16 years in Thai prison
Randfontein Show organisers call on all women to be inspired by Vanessa Goosen's testimony at the Women’s World Day of Prayer on 1 March.
Vanessa Goosen, who spent 16 years in a Bangkok prison for allegly smuggling drugs is this year’s guest speaker at the Randfontein Show’s popular Women’s World Day of Prayer function on 1 March.
This prayer function is a must for hundreds of women who flock to the Show Marquee early on a Friday morning to enjoy fellowship, praise and worship, and prayer.
For many, the highlight of this special event is listening to the motivational speakers who often tell of the difficulties they experienced in life and how they survived and came out stronger.
Goosen is no stranger to hardship. In 1994, she was on the brink of a big break in her modelling career and a Miss South Africa semi-finalist. The world was her oyster – until she was caught up in every traveller’s nightmare and arrested for alleged drug smuggling. She had been duped into carrying books that contained heroin, was arrested and sentenced to death, terrified and desperately alone in a Thai prison in Bangkok. She was also pregnant.
Goosen said her suffering was unbearable – she was filled with hatred and unforgivingness. She suffered from severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks and pain. But she did not allow her horrific experience to cripple her future – she turned her setback into a comeback.
She survived her ordeal and today she is a motivational speaker, author and distinguished business woman.
These three key beliefs drive her:
• Never give up, no matter how dark, hard or impossible your circumstances might be!
• You will come out stronger – I did!”
• It all begins with a decision.
Come and be inspired by her testimony at the Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday, 1 March in the Show Marquee from 8am.
Women who enter the Show grounds before 8am enter for free. Men are also welcome to attend, but need to pay the gate entrance fee of R90 or they can get a cheaper ticket for only R75 (the list of outlets are on https://www.randfonteinshow.co.za/visitorinfo/). The colours for the event are green, white and a touch of pink.
• Contact the Show office on 011 412 2878/1562 or email joy@randfonteininfo.co.za for more information.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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