Praise Him Who Orchestrates

From an outsider's perspective, my professional life revolves around the highly coveted (by quack nutritionists and dietitian wannabes) practice of being a nutrition, health and wellness expert. Made even more exciting by the myriad of interesting people I get to meet in my office, my client's corporate offices, as well as, the lectures and media launches and appearances I engage in. A career that is not only financially rewarding but delicate and dynamically impacting the lives of people in many ways.

Little do people know about my life as an online English teacher which commenced in 2013 and concluded in 2018. A humbling experience that has taught me so much about the Japanese culture and how it is to truly work for something that does not entail much monetary compensation. Half an hour or two, sometimes more hours, several days in a month was all it took to give me that sense of pride in witnessing my students, who could barely speak a word of English during our first lesson, form conversational phrases and eventually sentences. Oh the delight you see on their faces and the immense relief that I feel when they suddenly comprehend what I have just said!

"Why do you want to teach online when you have a private practice and own a consulting company?" was the most important question during my job interview. Apparently they did a background check. I simply replied: "I want to use my skills to help Japanese students speak English." I waited a few days and thought, I did not qualify unlike my best friend Genevieve who had been conducting classes for months already. She would tell me how much she found the classes enjoyable and there I was feeling hopeless about my application. To my astonishment, I was hired!

One day, my lesson was booked by Toshiyuki. I dare not put the title of respect 'san' after his name as he requested me not to. Toshi , as he prefers to be called, was more advanced than most of my students. He was determined and industrious.

In 2015, I had an emergency surgery and was unable to teach Toshi for weeks. Genevieve, my best friend, became my substitute. I wrote a blog to explain about my condition. I shared this with Toshi when he inquired about my health. That is where it all began. Toshi became curious about God/Jesus. To make the long story short, and with much prayer and sharing, God orchestrated for Toshi to meet his friend Lorraine in the US who gave him a bible. It became his earnest desire to be able to attend our church in Manila someday.

In August 10, 2020, God answered his prayer. We were able to attend church service together. He came to the Philippines for a short trip as part of an outreach program in an elementary school in Cebu.

Genevieve and I prayed unceasingly for Toshi to truly come to know Jesus. God again answered our prayers when the lockdown happened. With nowhere to go on Saturday nights, the three of us agreed to have a bible study and prayer meeting every week. In June 6, 2020, Toshi surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. I was in tears after our online meeting. Indeed God is amazing!

God isn't done with the three of us. He has a mission for us. This I know. But for now, I will bask on the beauty of how God has transformed each one of us these past months. He orchestrated these things to honor our desires according to his good, pleasing and perfect will.