This semester has
been incredible! I honestly could not have imagined what this semester would
have looked like at the beginning. When God appears He really does! So many
testimonies were birth from this semester. Countless encounters with God, with
salvations that were happening left and right.
At the beginning
of the semester I remembered looking around the restaurant that we were all
having dinner at and just saying "God, just wow me." Here I am 4
months later jaw dropped and still digesting everything that has happened. God
is so good!! He does take us above our own expectation on what we think this
life should look like.
I know my last
few post has been about how amazing this semester has been and my writing has
been pretty general. But thankfully now that I am on break I have some time to
get into the details!!
First of all
before I go into the story I just want to say that God really does know what He
is doing. And last year when I was learning about evangelizem through Rona, I
had no clue what the semester ahead had for me.
I began the
semester flying from the Philippines and straight to the dorms from the
airport. I wasn't as scared as I used to be compared to the past two semesters
where I had no clue how to get there. To be honest I was pretty chill because I
got used to how things were in college. I wasn't terrified of making decisions
let alone carrying all my luggage from the bus stop to the dorms. I have
strategically learned the fastest and easiest way to get around my university
as well. So at this point I had nothing to worry about. All I was looking
forward to is finally seeing all my friends.
Upon moving into the dorms I met
my roommate. She just woke up and I felt terrible for walking into our room at
6 in the morning. We introduced ourselves, she told me her name was Madeline.
Ironically enough she looked a lot like the little French girl named Madeline
too. She seemed nice and not bothered at the fact I disturbed her so early in
the morning. We asked questions back and forth for a good half an hour when she
had to get ready to leave and I decided to take a nap.
As I got to know my dear roommate
the more I grew fond of her. I liked her quiet personality (which I thought)
and just her openness to new ideas. I knew she wasn't a Christian from the
stories she told me. And she knew I was because I would be up early Sunday
morning and gone for the rest of the day. In the weeks that followed I
felt lead to just pray for her. Nothing like "God please get her
saved." or anything like that, but just prayers of blessing her through
her day. I continued to invite her to Emmaus rush week gatherings like dinner,
shopping and of course Emmaus. She came to the first meeting saying she would
give it a try but had to leave early because of a previous engagement. I was
sort of disappointed because Pastor Erin spoke such a powerful word!
I still encouraged her to go to
the next one and to my surprise was actually excited to go. She told me
everyone there was so nice and friendly so she definitely. wanted to give it
another try.
It was two weeks before the
retreat where I started getting anxious. I wanted Madeline to go to our New
Wine retreat and for some reason I thought that she just needed to be saved
before going. I was making plans for praying and fasting for her the week of
the retreat so that God will move in her heart to be saved so that she could
go! As many of you know most of our plans aren't exactly God plans. He's got
His own plans.
So the week before my fast
Madeline goes to our second Emmaus meeting. I sat next to her during the
meeting assuring her of a bit of comfort in the new environment. We had worship
and a powerful word was given by Pastor Marcus on Psalm 23. Then an alter call
was made for those who feel like that sheep that has forgotten about their
Shepherd and Pastor Marcus asked the staff and student leaders to pray over the
students that stood up. It was an amazing time where students began to open
their hearts back to their Shepherd. In the middle of praying for people I
totally lost track of what happened to Madeline. It wasn't until I looked
around the room and saw her in a corner with Rona. I saw Rona whispering
something to Madeline's ear and Madeline repeating it. In my head I was confused
yet I knew exactly what was happening. Did Madeline really accept Christ at her
first Emmaus meeting? Later on she told me that she was just drawn to everything
Pastor Marcus was saying and that she wanted that for herself.
I was so amazed
to see what God was already doing before I even tried to do anything. It was
crazy for me to think that it was up to me for her to accept Christ. I know we
could do things and lead them to Christ, but it was never up to me that things
happened the way they did. I never even got to fast for her! God was moving in
her heart before she even met me. She would tell me story after story that lead
her heart open to Christianity and why that night was the perfect night for her
to get saved.
I was so blessed that God allowed
her to come into my life. Her growth this semester really opened my eyes to
things I heard over and over again in my Christian walk. Having her as my roommate also challenged me in
different aspects of my life. She looked at Scripture with such hunger and
curiosity. And encouraged me and people around her as an overflow of her
relationship with Christ. Just seeing her growth was such a joy for me, to see a
life totally transformed by His love. I am so thankful that God put her in my
life and I wouldn't have it any other way! I love you Madeline!! You shine for
Him wherever you go!
*Madeline's experience that night and during
The New Wine retreat from here blog right here!
