There is excitement in the air as the school year ends and another summer begins; however, scattered melancholy accompanies this excitement. While we are excited to see the seniors reach the milestone of graduation, we are sad to see them go. But as we enter the summer and as the seniors eye new horizons, we recognize by our sides the ever present Companion who guides and guards us through all the storms of life. This truth is captured by the testimony of senior Suzanna Thompson, who shared her experience from the New York mission trip.
It was Tuesday evening, and ten of us from Memorial Baptist Church had been chosen to go help Pastor Tim Richmond pass out tracts for his church across town, Grace Baptist Church. Even though it was only Tuesday, we were already completely wiped out. On the way to his church, several of us fell asleep on the metro, and as soon as we got there, Pastor showed us a PowerPoint presentation with the lights out (making us all even sleepier). As soon as he flipped the lights back on, you could just feel that all the energy had left the room. We were so worn out.
Pastor took us to the metro station and split us up into pairs. I was stationed with Robert at one of the entrances just inside the gates. We had been standing for about one and a half hours; my feet were aching, and my backpack felt like it was getting heavier by the minute. I knew the smile on my face was waning, and again I could feel the energy draining from my body. Several people walked by and rejected the tracts I tried to hand them. “Please God, they don’t know what they’re missing.” I prayed. As soon as I prayed that, several trains pulled in, and as their passengers disembarked, the room we stood in began to fill to the brim with people. I felt overwhelmed. “Dear God, I’m out of energy. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. Please refresh me, and give me strength and energy to do this for you.” I began to frantically pass out fliers, as people bustled past me. Within two minutes of this prayer, a small lady came out from behind me (seemingly out of nowhere) and approached me confidently. The way she approached surprised me, so I took a step back and then remembered to hand her a flier. “Here. Would you like one?” I stuttered. “I’d love to. Will you take one of mine?” she asked me in reply. I nodded and looked down at what she was about to give me. In her hand she held a stack of sticky notes, each with a personalized, handwritten letter on it. She tore one off and handed it to me. Then she smiled at me and winked! I was so confused. At first I just stared at her, not knowing what she was giving me, but I took it anyways. I didn’t read it until after I watched her walk over to Robert and hand him one too. He read it and smiled. So I looked down and read mine. It said, “Don’t forget I do love you every day, and I’m next to you. I am your God, your Refuge, the One who loved you first. Love, Jesus.” I looked around frantically for the woman but she was gone. I looked down and read it over and over and over again. I just couldn’t believe it. God had given me not only what I had prayed for, but exactly what he knew I needed at exactly the right time. Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued to pass out the tracts. I probably looked a little strange crying and passing out fliers in the metro station, but it didn’t matter to me. I was overflowing with joy. I stuck the note on my finger, and whenever I began to get tired or frustrated I would look down at the note, and it would remind me that God was right there with me, helping me.
I learned so much from the New York trip, but I think the best thing I learned was that we serve a big God who delights in taking care of His children. Because of this, He wants us to come to Him with every care of our hearts, big or small, general or specific, and He will provide us with exactly what we need.
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