In 2019, my husband and I went to the US to study. We didn’t have enough funds, the scholarship was limited, but GOD had a plan! After I paid for the first semester of my doctoral study, the school refunded it. I have studied for free tuition ever since. We still had to cover some of my husband’s tuition and, of course, living expenses.
The Lord provided jobs
My husband worked as a security guard, and I got all kinds of jobs, from lawn maintenance to dorm cleaning to scrubbing the sports centre and, my favourite: the library.
It was truly the Lord’s hands that led me to work at the library. People kept saying getting a job at the library was the hardest. But one afternoon on my lunch break, I popped into the library to ask for it myself. When I entered the library, a lady at the front desk had just finished a phone call. I asked her for a job, and she was so surprised and excitedly said yes! The phone call she just hung up was from a staff member who decided to resign. That night, I sent my CV, got interviewed the next day, and she became my boss!
I started with a 10-hour shift a week. Not long after, I was asked to do 20 hours, and then I was offered the position of team leader. At the same time, the student director of the university wanted me to be a candidate as a dorm mum for undergrad girls. After discussing it with Andrew, I took the team leader job at the library.
Working at the library allowed me to meet more doctoral students. I was one of two who lived on campus, and most were distance students pastoring their churches. They came only for in-person modules or for books! It gave me the opportunity to talk to and learn from them. Discussion on Scriptures, the state of the church, culture, politics, or just random things.
A few times, they came and handed me an envelope with cash as a gift from a friend. My boss also randomly did the same thing, saying that someone wanted to bless me.
I never prayed for this thing but for grace. And the Lord reminds me again and again that His grace is sufficient in times of need. I am thankful for how He sustained us then and now.
I know God never promised the walk would be easy, but I also know He has promised to take care of us.
In the last couple of months, God has answered our prayers. Even for things we are ready to let go for His sake, He takes a good care of those.
Looking back, I am encouraged that the last five years have not been without a purpose. My conviction in the Biblical local church is stronger than ever. My understanding of ‘reverse mission’ is finer than before.
Looking forward to studying with my husband again.
Jehovah Jireh!
Thankful for the Lord’s provision of salvation. His sufficient grace in every season of life, and for prayerful brothers and sisters in Christ!
