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“Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)

In International Connection, the English as a Second Language program at RBC, it is only occasionally that we have the blessing of walking a student through the doors of salvation (for a variety of reasons – various faith backgrounds, cultures, linguistic challenges, etc.)  This past year, however, one of our teachers had that very privilege with a woman brand-new to our program in September 2009.  B., though entry-level in her understanding of the English language, nevertheless managed to grasp the truth of the gospel very early on with the help of her teacher and other believers to whom she was introduced.

B. had other issues to surmount in her life. She lives in a women’s shelter due to a domestic abuse situation.  However, she was extremely motivated to make this country her home and to get to the point in her language ability to make a living for herself and her family.  She attended our program twice a week faithfully as well as that of another church-based English program.  She was promoted to our Beginner-level class from Pre-Beginner quickly.  She began to attend church every week and got into a Shepherd group.  In time, she had a devoted “family” of believers whom she could count on for love and support.

A friend of B.’s told her about her plan to go on the Brazil mission trip and asked B. to pray for her, including asking the Lord for financial provision.  The needs in Brazil are familiar to B. because, sadly, there are women and children who live on dumps in her home country too.  In addition to praying, B. wanted to contribute $100.  The only problem is that B. does not have a job because she does not have her green card yet.  She is limited to only working an occasional personal job, like babysitting.  Another friend of B.’s knew she was a certified beautician in her home country.  That friend asked B. if she would come to her house and cut, color and style the hair of yet another friend.  B. accepted and was delighted to earn the $100 she needed for her gift!

She emphatically and joyfully gave that income to the person signed up for the mission to Brazil this summer! A whole host of people who know her were touched by this generous and sincere gift – and the blessing will be extended to  another group of people far more destitute than B., thousands of miles away in Brazil.

We are in awe of the lessons God has shown us in this situation – that financial support can come from completely unexpected places and that He can use even brand-new, cross-cultural believers in the faith to inspire the rest of us.