A few weeks later, I embarked on a research project for a class, interviewing immigrants about their experiences with religion and migration. As my last interview wrapped up, the couple I was interviewing started asking me questions about my future, and I spoke in passing about my dilemma. The conversation continued, and as I was about to leave, my respondents looked at each other and one of them spoke.“ We’ d like to pay for you to take the GREs.” I was blown away. Tears filled my eyes as they told me about how they felt compelled to allow me this opportunity.
The application process rushed by in a blur and I was constantly reminded that everything I was doing was for the will of God. As acceptance letters began to arrive, I prayed about which school I should choose to attend. Brown had consistently been my first choice, and when they offered me a partial scholarship, it seemed like a clear sign. Still, it was only a partial scholarship, and I found myself doubting this path and wondering how I would ever be able to afford the rest of the tuition fees.
I ' ll go wherever you want me to, Lord. The words came out in a rush, but I meant them. I knew that I was in the hands of the one who knew the best plan for me.
Give me faith to trust what You say. My prayer was still the same, and again I told God to use me and send me wherever He wanted me to go. However, reality was hitting me hard. I had spent 21 years in the same country, and now would be living on my own 10,000 miles from home without the structure of dorm life. I kept wondering if this was really where He was calling me. Was the trouble and expense worth it? After all, I rationalized, wasn’ t there work I could do in Singapore, where I was comfortable?
Surrendering is difficult, but God always provides.
Now I’ m coming to the end of my time at Brown, where I’ ve learned, grown, and experienced so much more than I could have in my comfortable little world back in Singapore. This past January, I attended an international school job fair in Massachusetts, where I was hired by the best international school in the Philippines. When I got the job offer, I broke down, knowing that this was entirely God’ s plan, the one He had been preparing me for since He’ d planted the first seed in my heart freshman year.
Surrendering to God has been the best decision I have ever made. Teaching may not provide a life of glamor or wealth, but knowing I’ m where God wants me to be is better than any money or fame. Although there are times when I’ m anxious or worried, I know He’ s got my back, and He’ s taking me on a journey I could never have planned on my own. In August, I will have lived in three countries in three years, a far cry from spending 21 years in the same city. Jesus clearly stated that with God, all things are possible( Matt 19:26). If you feel God tugging on your heart, or even if you have no idea what your next step is, I encourage you to trust God completely and surrender yourself to His will. Have the courage to let yourself be used in incredible ways.
Roxanne Wong is a graduate student in Education.
The thing is, God never calls us to be comfortable. Throughout the Bible, God constantly calls people to leave their homes into the unknown. Abram left his nation( Gen 12:1-20), Moses turned on his comfortable life in the palace( Exod 2:11-22), Ruth departed from her people and the only place she had ever known( Ruth 1:8-19), and Jesus called His disciples away from everything familiar to them( Matt 4:18-22; Mark 2:13-14). Clinging on to my sense of security in Singapore, I decided to create a crowdfunding page, knowing that this was a longshot and telling myself that if I wasn’ t able to raise enough money, I wouldn’ t go.
Incredibly, beyond my wildest hopes, people from all over the world— even complete strangers— supported my crazy campaign. The editor of my college newspaper asked me to write about my crowdfunding venture, and soon the story was being shared hundreds of times on social media platforms and through word of mouth. The generosity was astounding. To this day, I feel like I’ m living a dream. I couldn’ t believe the power of compassion and the power of God.
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