Nalda 

The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well whom Jesus asked for a drink of water was named Nalda. This coincidental meeting altered the course of Nalda’s life. Overcoming initial misunderstandings and cultural barriers, Nalda engaged deeply with Jesus, leading to her conversion and transformation into a faithful follower. Her encounter with Jesus prompted her to share her experience, leading others to meet the "marvelous prophet." This was the first person on earth that Jesus revealed that he was divine, and the resurrected Jesus later appeared to Nalda.

Nalda was a strikingly beautiful woman. She was a Samaritan, whom the Jews shared a history of enmity with, who came to Jacob’s well with a water pitcher and prepared to draw water. Jesus was alone, resting there and hoping to obtain a drink of water. When Jesus greeted her in a friendly manner and asked for a drink of water, Nalda was taken aback. There were cultural norms against such interactions, and she asked, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink of me, a Samaritan woman?" Jesus responded, "I have indeed asked you for a drink, but if you could only understand, you would ask me for a drink of the living water." Curious, Nalda questioned, "But you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; whence, then, have you this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well, and who drank thereof himself and his sons and his cattle also?" Jesus explained, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whosoever drinks of the water of the living spirit shall never thirst. And this living water shall become in him a well of refreshment springing up even to eternal life." Intrigued, Nalda requested, "Give me this water that I thirst not... Besides, anything which a Samaritan woman could receive from such a commendable Jew would be a pleasure."

Misinterpreting Jesus' friendliness and metaphoric speech for flirtation, Nalda initially responded flirtatiously until Jesus' firm request, "Woman, go get your husband and bring him here," shocked her into a more serious demeanor. Realizing her mistake, she admitted, "But, Sir, I cannot call my husband, for I have no husband." Jesus acknowledged her truthfulness, "You have spoken the truth, for, while you may have once had a husband, he with whom you are now living is not your husband. Better it would be if you would cease to trifle with my words and seek for the living water which I have this day offered you."

This conversation led to a deeper reflection by Nalda, who, feeling ashamed, declared, "My Lord, I repent of my manner of speaking to you, for I perceive that you are a holy man or maybe a prophet." However, instead of seeking personal guidance, she shifted the discussion to religious practices, questioning, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and yet you would say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship; which, then, is the right place to worship God?" Jesus patiently explained the transcendence of physical locations in worship, emphasizing that "God is spirit, and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," focusing on the authenticity of worship rather than location.

Nalda would make one more effort to avoid discussing the embarrassing question of her personal life and resorted to questions of general religion, saying: “Yes, I know, Sir, that John has preached about the coming of the Converter, he who will be called the Deliverer, and that, when he shall come, he will declare to us all things” – and Jesus, interrupting Nalda, said with startling assurance, “I who speak to you am he.”

Nalda gave up her evasions. In her soul, she deeply desired salvation and longed for a more noble way of living. As she was about to confess the real desire of her heart, the twelve apostles returned with supplies. Jesus told Nalda that God had forgiven her, that she would live a new life, and that she would become a daughter of the Most High. That evening, Nalda went to Sychar and told the people to see this marvelous prophet, and Jesus spoke to these Samaritans that evening.

Nalda changed her life and became a faithful follower of Jesus. On Sabbath afternoon, May 13, the resurrected Jesus appeared to Nalda and about seventy-five Samaritan believers near Jacob’s well in his seventeenth resurrection appearance.