April 2017: God’s Calling and Confirmation- All for His Glory!

By Marela: I didn’t feel called to go on this trip until what some might consider to be “way too late.” The team was supposed to have already met their halfway mark for fundraising. I sent letters, made phone calls, posted social media statuses and yet almost a month later… I had made next to no progress. I had been struggling with wondering if I had signed up too eagerly. Maybe I didn’t pray hard enough. Maybe I wasn’t listening closely enough to God’s words.

At this point I had kinda made peace with the idea that maybe this trip was not in God’s will for me. But then! I was at work one day (I’m a waitress) and I was cut, which meant I wasn’t supposed to get any more tables. I was just supposed to finish my sidework and go home. Then all of a sudden we got a really random rush (it was about 2:30) and we got super busy. The servers were really overwhelmed and my manager asked if I could just take a couple more tables. I said of course! One of the tables I took was originally assigned to a different server, then my manager transferred them to me. It all went really well, they were very nice people, a man and his wife. Then after I had handed them their check, they asked me if I was going to college in the area. Now, this is a question I get asked frequently and I had been struggling with what my answer should be, as I have been chewed out by my tables before for telling them I wanted to be a missionary. But I went ahead and hesitantly replied, “Well, no… I’m actually in training to be a missionary.” And then, to my surprise, their eyes lit up and they proceeded to tell me how they were pastors and had been on missions themselves! That in itself was amazing! But then they both reached in their wallets and pulled out all they had, about $300 and gave it to me. Oh my gosh! I couldn’t believe it! We were all crying and hugging and it was truly an amazing experience. I just so happened to have an extra letter in my purse so I gave it to them and asked if they would pray over the trip. They said of course and we hugged again and exchanged contact information. They left and a couple minutes later the wife came back in and said, “We read your letter, we want you to have this.” She handed me a little folded slip of paper and hurried out the restaurant. I ran to the bathroom and unfolded the paper. I couldn’t believe my eyes!! Inside was a check for $3,000. An amount that covered my entire trip!! That was it!!

I truly do not believe there is anyway to witness this story and not give total glory to God. That wasn’t supposed to be my table! I was supposed to be home! I just so happened to have an extra letter in my purse? Not only had God provided in such an amazing way, but I had received total confirmation that this trip was indeed in God’s will for me. Wow, He sure is good to me!! I can also tell you that now, when anyone asks me what I’m going to school for, I proudly proclaim the mission God has blessed me to be a part of! Let’s scream it from the mountains!