This is the second two-post revealing Wendell & Daisy’s intimate dependence on God to provide. I trust you can recall similar instances on your own journey. Count your Blessings. Be honest with your own current situation & do intercede for others you know whom are similarly struggling.
Chapter 20 Evidence of Things Not Seen Part 1.
So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink” What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)
In January 1988, having worked as an art director at the import and export company for over a year, Daisy and I determined that we really had to move on. The call of God on our lives was stronger now than ever. We recognized that God had brought us this far by faith. If we were going to continue with Him on this journey, we needed to keep going by faith. The challenge of deliberately cutting from the source of finances we were now so dependent upon, was once again the battle we would have to fight. However, I didn’t want to go through that agonizing process the way I had experienced it when I left the job teaching at the college.
“Daisy, we need to know for sure if God called us a full-time service or not. If God really called us here to serve him, then the only way I know how to do this is to trust him 100 percent to take care of us and provide for our needs. I just can’t do what God has put in my heart and keep working at this job at the same time.”
Daisy agreed, and so, together, we made the choice to take another step of faith. We determined I would leave my place of employment deliberately and not tell anyone about it except God alone. No hinting by requesting prayers for our finances in newsletters to our friends, family, and church back in the states. Likewise, no telling our friends and other missionaries, or even Daisy’s family in Hong Kong that I was leaving my job. This would be between ourselves and God alone. “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him.” Psalm 9:2
Without deliberating further, I gave notice that I was leaving my job. This time the response from my boss was different from when I left my teaching job over a year ago.
“I want you to hire a new art director and be out of your office and the company apartment in two weeks,” I was told matter-of-factly.
I’d almost forgotten that we were living free in the company apartment and that sudden realization brought a wave of alarm I tried hard not to show. “No problem, we’ll be gone,” I replied with a faint coolness.
My mind, however screamed, Big problem! Big big problem! Just like that, I had once again taken my family on a wild plug for the edge of a cliff with no hope of a safe landing, except that God would intervene.
Word quickly spread among my office staff. “Do you know where you’re going to live?” asked Cheung, the first artist I had hired a year ago. “If you’re looking for a good place, I know some vacant apartments available in a little village where I live near the China border.” Checking himself, he said, “But I don’t know if they’ll even allow a Westerner to live there. It’s privately owned, traditional old-style Chinese village that has belonged to the Hui family for many generations. But I suppose I can find out for sure if you want me to.”
Since we had no other options for housing, on such notice, this seemed like a good idea as any. “Well, sure, why not let’s see what happens.” I replied hopefully.
When Chang arrived at the office the next day, he reported he’d already arranged for Daisy and me to meet the village mayor the following evening. The mayor wanted to interview with us before determining if permission for outsiders to live among them would be granted
Leaving our children in the care of Daisy’s mother we arrived at the village the following evening after a 35-minute train ride from our home in Mong Kok. It was a dark as we found our way to the entrance that passed through a 12-foot-thick section of an ancient fortification wall that surrounded the village for many generations. Within that gate was an altar in front of an idol of a Buddhist deity where the smoke of incense rose from the glowing tips of several just set behind a few oranges, a bowl of rice and a cup of tea. This was to honor and entreat protection from the village god and family ancestors.
TO BE CONTINUED