Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Canada (01/29/09)
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TITLE: From Canada - A Moving Experience | Previous Challenge Entry
By Charlene Reid
02/05/09 -
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I have lived in many parts of Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and back again which means that I have moved many times. Packing and loading is always a tedious task but I was blessed to have friends who would help. Unloading, often meant new friendships were formed by neighbors lending a hand. Each move held excitement, adventure, discovery, and many blessings.
I had never stopped to consider these blessings until I had the experience of helping a lady move while on a mission trip. I had gone with 3 other Canadians, two gentlemen and one other lady, to help build a church on a small island off the coast of Brazil. The “roads” were paths; there were no cars and few bicycles. A ferry was the only connection to the mainland.
One of the island gentlemen working on the church with us came one morning and told us that there was a lady moving from one side of the village to the other by herself. He had offered her the use of an old cart, which she gladly accepted because she had been carrying what she could with each load.
The other Canadian lady and I were asked if we would go help her. Knowing how grateful I had always been to receive help when moving I was eager to go and lend a hand.
So, with our interpreter, we went. When we first walked up she looked at us very suspiciously and guarded. Once the interpreter explained why we were there her face lit up in a huge smile and she started talking a mile a minute in broken but legible English.
It started with just the three of us and then the village kids that we had met began to help. Soon others joined in until we had quite a parade on each trip to and from. We moved everything that wasn’t fastened down. As we got to the heavier stuff – like the cupboards, some of the men from the church site came to help.
As we helped her move she shared her story with us. She had moved to the island to take a job teaching adults because her husband had lost his job. She had been accepted when she first arrived but soon she didn’t fit in. The people who owned the house she was renting didn’t want to rent to her anymore, so she was forced to move or leave.
What could she do? She prayed for God to help her. Then she found out about the other place and that the people were willing to rent it to her.
The ‘other place’ that she moved to was no more than a barn. But to her it was like a palace because it was provided to her by God.
I was humbled – would I have ever thanked God if he had provided such a place for me to live in? As my heart was grieving my selfishness she dug out a hymn book and encouraged us to sing with her. She sang loud and bold in Portuguese. We sang along in English – a song about God’s faithfulness. Now tears were streaming down our faces, as we stood arm in arm, sharing the sisterhood that Christians are meant to experience.
When we finished she asked us if we knew why we were here. We began to explain about the mission trip to help build the church but she laughed.
She said “You are here because I prayed for you. I needed help and since no one here in this place would help God had you here. I knew help would come,” she laughed again then continued “it just really amazes me that he had to bring someone all the way from Canada.”
I will never forget the lesson I learned from my Brazilian Sister - I may live in Canada but I belong to the Kingdom of God. As the Psalmist wrote - “I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
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I enjoyed the story. I love how God orchestrates our lives when we seek to do His will.