Prepared in Advance

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” –II Corinthians 9:8
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:10

These pictures were taken the summer of 2007, the second and last time I got to go to SE Asia, when I was two months pregnant with Mr. C. I met these girls the first time I went, the year before, and I fell in love with them–they have such sweet hearts! It’s been a while now, and with my two young children, I didn’t think I’d get to see them again for a long time, if ever, but I prayed I would.

At the same time, I’ve been praying that I wouldn’t just be pouring into my children but that I would have a place to pour into other lives in a way that wouldn’t take away from my children. I didn’t know what that would be, but God gave me the verses I wrote above as an encouragement while I waited. I had no idea how much He had prepared me for this!

My preparation: God has given me a heart for orphans ever since I can remember; I am a trained former ESL teacher; I have worked with both elementary and high school students; Greg lived in SE Asia for 3 years, and I have been twice, so I know a little about the culture; and I’ve met a group of loveable girls, and I miss them. So an opening came for me to volunteer to tutor this particular home of elementary and high school aged orphans out of eight other homes I could tutor in SE Asia. I would tutor them in English through Skype from the comfort of my home for a half an hour once or twice a week, whenever I chose, before my kids wake up.

Of course, I jumped at the opportunity! God made it so that I was able to be used by Him in a way that was a perfect fit and a total joy for me. I not only get to see the girls, but I get to see them weekly and get to know them better than if I just went for another week or two one summer. He definitely prepared this one in advance for me!

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