Since coming to Taiwan to study, we’ve been able to afford the plane ticket home every summer to see family and friends. When we do get home, however, we live with our parents, friends and relatives – anyone who will let us sleep on a couch or floor. And, contrary to popular belief, we are not rolling in the dough, so it’s been necessary every summer to find some sort of work to pay for living expenses. That reality has made the past few summers interesting indeed!
We have, among other things:
~Spent weeks painting the outside of a building, and getting some pretty amazing tan lines.
~Worked for Michigan State University’s Cafeteria system, both as secretaries and kitchen hands, depending on the day.
~Labored a summer in the corn fields of southern Michigan, de-tasseling. Don’t know what that is? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detasseling
~Donated plasma. Michael calls this “selling his body.” He wrote quite a few posts about it.
This summer, we are again able to afford the plane tickets. This is a miracle in itself, because we already went home once in March for my brother’s wedding. Glory to God, he answered our prayers and provided Michael with a job just in time! I love answers to prayer!
Now, we’re waiting patiently for the perfect answer to our next request: a way to stay in Owensboro, KY for the summer with my grandparents. Grandma and Grandad are precious to us, beloved family and two of the most interesting and beautiful people we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Neither one of them has trusted in Jesus as their savior, though, and we both feel very led to spend time sharing Christ with them and serving. If this were last summer, there wouldn’t be a problem – they had a big, beautiful house with plenty of space – but they’ve just moved into a retirement home with no room for us. We can’t afford a hotel for more than a night or two, but want to stay for more than a month. So, what to do? Good question. We’ve been talking to family about this for months, with no one offering to let us stay with them. We’ve just recently started to email churches in the area, asking for help, knowing that God always provides – even if it’s through strangers!
I was talking to my friend Loreta at church this morning, a woman who has hours and hours of stories about the provision and faithfulness of God. Michael and I had asked the church for prayer about our living and job situation this summer, and she wondered if God had answered our prayers yet.
“Not yet,” I said, “We’re waiting patiently.”
She clapped her hands like a giddy child, beaming, “God will bring you the perfect gift! I have something I’m waiting for, too. Let me tell you.”
Over the past few weeks she’s been praying about where He wanted to send her, and received overwhelming confirmation that He wants her in Poland. Poland?! She called the coordinator of the organization, asking with confusion if they needed help.
“Oh, YES! We’ve been emailing and calling you for months, but we couldn’t reach you! Please come as quickly as you can!”
That was enough for her. She booked her ticket to Poland, using all the money she had.
“But what about the rest, Loreta, all the money you still need? And you only have a week and a half!” I was incredulous.
She looked at me and smiled. “Emily, I have had God provide for me over and over again in my life, in so many ways that my faith is unbreakable now. He has made it clear that He wants me there. He’ll bring the money. I’m going to Poland.”
We clasped hands and prayed for each other, holding each other accountable to believe in faith that God gives what He promises. Always enough, and just what we need. What a dear woman. She has encouraged me in so many ways.
So, now we wait. School ends next Friday, and we fly home on June 28th. Everything is up in the air still, but the plan is to stay in Michigan for 2-3 weeks visiting family and friends, then drive down to Kentucky to stay for 4-6 weeks. God will tell us where to go and what to do, when the time is right.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. -Hebrews 4:16
Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. -James 1:17
If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! -Matthew 7:11
We believe in faith and trust in God’s unchanging goodness. This life is filled with sweetness.
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