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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