Being in a far away place for 6 months is a great blessing from the Lord. It was a time for me to know how deceitful my heart is and how incapable I am of keeping myself in the narrow path – that it was God who has preserved and protected me all throughout this time.
Church was a major factor for me to accept the offer of going to Ohio. Although my first church was not a good church, God was so faithful to give me discernment and brought me to His church there. Truly, if it is His will, He will be faithful to provide. God has not left me as an orphan there... It's just that God has a perfect timing for everything.
My first month of not being at Grace Church was a time for me to realize how much I should value biblical preaching and how much I need fellowship of the brethren. The biblical preaching of the word of God brought me the sense of being at home. Also, there is true spiritual unity for the people of God despite the cultural and racial difference. I can't wait to be in heaven!
I praise God for Grace Church! Although it was a long drive for me every Sunday, I thank God for bringing me there. I believe this is one confirmation from God that I belong to Him. I praise God for the discernment and hunger for His Word and His family.
Since church is a long drive for me, church wasn't always within reach when I was having struggles and knowing that I was new to them, it would not be so easy to share personal issues. But I thank God because of His fulfillment of Hebrews 13:5. I praise God for His very presence in my life. I had no family, relatives or Christian friends to run to when I was feeling so sad and alone. Calling or texting wasn't so easy financially and logistically because of the time difference. I learned to run to God. I've never had a deeper experience of how it is to be truly helpless before God than when I was in Ohio – to just fall prostrate before God and depend on Him and wait upon Him.
Also, I thank God for opportunities to share my faith to my co-workers and friends at the hotel. May the Lord open their hearts to the truth shared to them that they too, may experience the joy of being in and for the Lord.
Now, I've been home for 2 weeks... Although my stay in Ohio is but 2% of my whole life, it's very significant and so memorable. I thank God for every person I met especially the people in church whom I will see again when the Day of the Lord comes. God has used my stay in Ohio to sanctify me and to encourage me.
I thank God for how this trip caused me to learn and realize so many things. God is so good and so faithful. All glory to God alone!
