A Testimony of Grace - Episode 1

[followmylead]

A TESTIMONY OF GRACE

DECEMBER 2012

My husband, who is a very practical sort of guy and not
given to feelings or whims tells me that he thinks 2013 is going to be a
significant year for us. He feels it in
his waters. When I ask him what he
means, he says he does not know. It is
just a sense or feeling.

On the 31 December, he preaches (he is a pastor) on all the
unexpected things that happened in 2012, saying who knows what 2013 holds for
us – encouraging us to hold firmly onto God, who is sure and unchangeable.

JANUARY 2013

I make a list of 10 things I hope that God would give me
before I die. 8 out of the 10 things are
things the bible teaches is the will of God, so I have confidence that God will
answer them. One of the items is my
fears and feelings of unsafety – praying for God’s protection, but knowing God
makes no promises of physical safety – I know it may not be God’s will for my
life.

The next Sunday, my husband preaches again and a visitor,
convicted by the message, asks to speak to him about it. They agree to meet at the local coffee
shop. When they arrive there, the shop
is closed and they go to the Spur. The
gentleman is soft spoken and the Spur is noisy. Paul has to strain to hear
him. As they are about to leave, a woman
walks up to him and hands him a letter.
She says God told her to write this letter. You must understand, we are on the extreme
conservative side of the church. This is
so out of our comfort zone. Paul asks if
they have met before. She says no. He asks her name. She says it does not matter. When he gets home, he wakes me up to show me
the letter. It says: “ The day you were
formed, I rejoiced. I have seen your faithfulness and am well pleased. Obey all
my laws, commands and statues and you will continue in my blessing (Deuteronomy
28). I am going to show you new things, more about my kingdom and how it
operates. You are my lighthouse in storms and trials of people’s lives and I am
the light that shines in the lighthouse.
I will bring many to you to be encouraged and to hear my word. Never
deviate or compromise my word as my word is like a two edged sword, it pierces
and reaches hearts, it divides. My word never changes. There are many false
prophets that come in my name, beware, they slightly twist the truth to tickle
the ears of the people and to receive recognition and favour by people. I have
big plans for you and I know the Holy Spirit I gave you, is one of power, love
and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7). People are not walking in my full blessing,
because they do not obey my laws, statues and commands. The New Testament was
not to abolish the old, but my son, Jesus came to fulfil it. I love you and am
well pleased. Love God.” The letter was
dated on my husband’s birthday.

FEBUARY 2013

Paul’s contract is up for renewal. He has been with the church for 10 years and
the leadership discusses the future with him.
They ask the question, do you think you are the right person to lead the
church for the next 10 years and do you think it is time for a move. Although these questions were normal
questions to ask given the occasion, they throw us. We have not asked that as we are committed to
long term service. We make a commitment
to pray about it. As we are discussing
this, I say to my husband that I love this church and I am very happy
here. I won’t consider a move unless it
is out of the country and that it must come to us miraculously. We did not
discuss this with anyone or put feelers out in any way. All we did is just pray. We asked God –Lord,
what do you want us to do. We are happy
here and have no desire to go anywhere else.
If you want to us to go – won’t you please show us that clearly?

Morning of the 7^th of February 2013

I have my devotions, as is usual for me. I read my devotional and the scripture is from
Micah 2:10 ‘ Get up, go away’ – the author’s notes say “ Get up, leave the home
in which you have lived, the city in which you have worked, your family that
you have loved, and your friends. Get up
and take your last journey. And what do we know of the journey, and of the
country we are going to.” Again I pray – Lord whatever your will is, is what I
want to do. Please show us what you
want.

Paul receives a call from Allen. His mother was in our church 14 years
ago. We only met him a few times. We have had no contact with him at all since
we left there 12 years ago. Allen lives in Perth. He tells Paul that his pastor asked him if he
knew of anyone who would be suitable for
a church in a small town in the South West of Australia. He said, Paul, as I was praying about that,
your name and face was as clear as daylight before me. So I am phoning you to
ask if you would apply for the position of senior pastor.

That same day – the 7^th of February, a friend of
ours that now lives in USA emails Paul and tells him to investigate
opportunities that come along. We also
get a call from a close friend who tells us that she woke up in the night and
had an overwhelming desire to pray for us – and she prayed that God would use
us outside of SA.

All this just seem really overwhelming. We decide to make contact with that
church. We contact the search committee
and we are asked to apply for the position.
We did not think they would consider us, as we are Anglican and the
position is for a Baptist pastor – and we are in SA. We read what they stand
for and what they want in a pastor and we are overjoyed. They want what we are and what matters to us
matters to them.

They tell us they will meet in two weeks to discuss the
application

14 February 2013

We receive an email from the search committee to say that
they are very interested in pursuing this further and ask for references and
sets up a Skype interview.

My mother in law asks us to please apply for the boys
British passports – she is paying for it.
We apply for unabridged and Vault copies of their birth
certificates. At the same time – while
we are at it, we renew our passports and apply for the boys SA passports.

Later in February

During the weeks that follow, we just keep on with life and
keep praying that the Lord will keep showing us his will. We are happy to stay,
we are happy to go. I pray specifically
that the committee will be unanimous in their decision to recommend us to their
board. The Skype interview goes well and
we are informed the same afternoon that they were unanimous in their decision
to recommend us to the church board.

A 25 page document is drawn up on us and several of Paul’s
sermons are downloaded and listened to.
The Board informs us that they have looked at the recommendation and
wish to pursue it further with us and can we arrange another Skype interview –
with the entire board (12 people). A
date is set for a week later. We pray
much about it and also ask one or two close friends to pray with us. The Skype interview comes; they ask all the
theological questions needed to clarify where we stand. We are brutally honest. We want them to know where we stand and be
sure we are the right people for the church. Again, the night before I prayed
for two specific things. No 1, I prayed again that they will be unanimous in
their decision and no 2 –that they will make the decision quickly. (We were
warned that they take long to make decisions and can take several weeks of
deliberation). We had the interview, and
15 minutes after the interview, we received a phone call to say that they are
unanimous in their decision and that they would like to invite them to meet the
church at their expense. Once we have
met the church, they will call a special vestry meeting 2 weeks later and then
the church will vote whether they think we are suitable or not.

March 2013

Our names are made known to the church and our website gets
612 hits from Australia. We tell our
leadership what has transpired. They are
surprised, but feel it is clear that we should at least go and see. We decide to inform the church of our reason
for the visit. Not only is it a small
world and word gets out, but we feel we have nothing to hide. We tell them that we are considering the call
and that we will make the decision once we have been to see the church. We feel
torn between extreme excitement and guilt.
How can we be excited about this new church if we say we love our
current church? We question ourselves – is this something we want or is it God
leading us? We know God does not speak
audibly to us or reveal the future. So
we ask ourselves if the door closes – are we willing to stay. The answer is yes.

May 2013

We decide to go in May and apply for visitors visas. My husband has a British passport and his
visa is done immediately – I am advised that it would take 21 days. 4 days later, we receive our visa. On the 18^th
of May we fly out to Perth. The next 10
days are spent meeting all the people who attend the church. Breakfast, lunches, suppers, bible studies
etc. We feel an immediate connection. On
the Wednesday we discuss visas with the board.
We tell them that we need to come over on a PR as the risk of a short
term visa is just too big. They are
willing but don’t want to wait the 6months the visa will take. They recommend bringing us over on the 401
and applying for the PR as soon as that is granted. They agree to pay for all the costs. Moving us and visas. That night we Google visa specialist. We randomly pick the 4-5^th name
listed and randomly pick a consultant’s name to confirm the information given
to us. We get a reply within an hour.
This person we randomly picked happened to be a Christian in a church of
a guy that my husband went to college with in SA. She also tells us that a board
member has already been in touch with her and we should not worry at all, that
everything will happen as they said and God will help us along the way. We are stunned – how can that be
coincidence. The next night after a bible
study I am chatting to a member of the church who tells me that when they
announced that they are looking for a senior pastor, she prayed that it would
not be an Aussie (she is aussie) and that the person would be a little rough
around the edges. My husband is not your
typical pastor and the describes him to a tea.

We leave after the Sunday morning, heart sore to say goodbye
to these people who already have become our friends. In the car on the way to Perth, I have a
complete panic. I decide that it is just
too much change and too big a move and I just cannot give up my secure and
comfortable – in the sense of being familiar – life in PE. The Sunday evening, we go to a church. The woman next to me recognises my
accent. She tells me her dad is in
SA. In PE, we discover he is in our
church. Of all the churches and all the people to sit next to…the pastor
preaches and his challenge is – are you willing to risk it all. Your comfort, your security, your familiarity
for the sake of being useful to the kingdom of God somewhere else. I know God is speaking to me.

We arrive home on the Wednesday and on the Friday we have a
farewell for our friend and colleague.
We arrive a bit late at church and when we walk in everyone stands up
and cheers and claps. I thought it was
for our friend, but it is for us. Our
church missed us and loves us and their love is overwhelming. I feel overwrought, thinking Lord, asking me
to leave this church and going to another is like trying to choose between my
children.

Paul and I spend the next few days making a decision. We decide, if they call us, we feel God has
made it clear to us – we must go. We
want to go.

THE WAIT

Part of the churches constitution is that they have to call
a meeting 2 weeks after we leave for the congregation to vote on whether they
want to call us or not. The wait is
agonising. We receive letters, emails
and messages from several people saying they are looking forward to our
return. We remind ourselves of the
scripture that says – do not say today or tomorrow I will live in this city and
do this work, rather say – if it is the Lord’s will, I will move. Two weeks can seem like two years.

ANOTHER SURPISE

After we had the email from the visa agent, we called out
estate agent and asked to evaluate the house to see if we can sell it, should
we go. Before the house goes on the
market, we receive a written offer at full asking price, provided we are
willing to move at the end of June. We
agree with the condition that we receive the call.

THE MOMENT ARRIVES – 16 JUNE

The morning of the 16^th of June, at 08h30 we
receive a call. With an overwhelming
majority (97%), the call is extended – please come as soon as you can and be
our pastor. We are overjoyed.

IN THE MEANTIME…THE HOUSE

The buyer has until Friday 21^st June at 5pm to
provide proof of funds. He misses the
deadline. We get a call that he has been
approved in principal, but that his other properties provide him with enough
cover. The deadline is amended to
Friday 28^th of June at 5pm
and our move day is moved to the 15 July.
Outcome to be advised.

We received a letter by email tonight, confirming our house is sold. (26/6/2013)

THE CAR

We have a car that is paid off. We advertise it on Gumtree. We have 3 people interested. One pulls out, one can’t get the funds and
one never comes back.

THE DOCUMENTATION

In March we decide to apply for unabridged and vault birth
certificates as the boys qualify for an ancestral British passport. By the end of May, the doh advises that they
cannot find the vault copies and they cannot give us unabridged birth
certificates. My husband and I pray and
ask God to help us as we cannot get a visa without it. My husband goes to the
doh (again) and pleads with the office manager.
He scribbles an email add and says he cannot do anymore. Maybe this person can help us. My husband sends an email explaining our
predicament and gives our phone numbers etc.
We get a phone call from some official in PTA saying that they have
released authorisation – all the unabridged plus vault copies can be collected
in an hour. Thank you God. We know that this was a direct answer to
prayer.

THE VISAS

The visa agent advises the church not to bother with the
401. The rsms 187 gets priority and we
will get that sooner than the 401. We have
all the documents we need. As the church
fills in their documents, they discover that one of the legal requirements is
that the position must have been advertised in the media in the 3 months
preceding the application. They
advertised for a year in various media forms, but stopped advertising when they
decided on Paul. But since then 3 months has just passed. They face a conundrum. To meet the visa requirements they must
advertise, but is the advertisement one with integrity as they already have the
person. After discussion we advise them to place the advertisement. If a suitable candidate within Australia
applies, they must pursue it with integrity and what will be will be. We have to trust that God is sovereign and He
has a purpose for us and them. So now we
have to wait another two weeks.

THE CAR CONTINUES

We have another call for the car. A buyer comes and pays cash.

Now we are carless, almost homeless and will soon be
jobless. We are not panicking. God has
never been unfaithful to us. He has
always provided for us. We have tested
his will many times over the going to Australia. We are at peace.

This story will continue

Edited June 26, 2013 by followmylead

[Eonl]

What a Great Read, When i read this, the following Scripture came to me from ACTS 7

"Go out From your country and from your relatives, and come to the land I will show you. "

I Truly hope that it all goes Fast by and in no time you will be there.

[Classicman]

God is good!

[Alida]

Oh wow, what an absolutely Great and Faithful Father we serve !!! So much peace in knowing that He is intimately involved with us in every possible way ! May this coming three months will be a time of complete joy and victory to you, and another beautiful chapter of testimonies, honoring God through your faithfulness.

I'll be waiting for every update of yours ...

Blessings !

Alida

[Eva]

WOW. I got goosebumps reading your story...

I guess the most amazing thing is your faith and trust in the Lord because that is not always easy!

[Mara]

I ended up in tears, reading your story thus far...what a wonderful Saviour we serve!

[Patty]

Looking forward to the next exciting episode

[AlBrough]

That is truly inspiring!

[Rhino1]

Wow, your story is such a blessing. Thanks for sharing. I see a great testimony in the making.

[Tsunabi]

I just LOVE how The Lord works in our lives :-) Sometimes he whispers and sometimes he speaks very loud, but allways there!

[LindaandPaul]

Thank you for posting this. I have struggled to come to terms with the fact that leaving South Africa feels like an act of desertion, especially as I am a social worker and working for the common good is my life calling. What better place than South Africa right? It validates my thinking that I can contribute meaningfully elsewhere and perhaps even for the better. Got to listen to God's voice in all of this. It is essential for me... thanks for reminding me.

[McCabes]

multiple doses of goosebumps. To God be the glory...

[Mac777]

One of my concerns has definitely been whether this is God's will for us as well and how we will serve him and I have been speaking to friends and members of our church and after a significant amount of prayer and discussion the answer is always the same...God knows no geographical boundaries and how you serve him is not necessarily dependant on where in the world you are but rather what you do with yourself and how you glorify his name in the place you find yourself in.

If it sounds like I'm trying to justify a move because it's what I want, it's not, too many people have said the same thing to ignore it and on that note, I think you should really just keep the faith and trust that He will look after you. I get the feeling thet God is sitting up there in all his glory completely bemused at you, and thinking..."How many more doors do I have to open before you just relax and know that I am taking care of you?" Matthew 6 v 28-34 and Matthew 10 v 29-31.

Don't stress...He's got your back!!