It is true when the bible says nothing is impossible with God--I'm a believer!!
This is an example of how God works--when it doesn't make sense to us.
Here is the story....
When I graduated from Graduate School in 2004, I consolidated my loans together, from undergraduate and graduate school. In 2005, we started paying back the loans while also expecting our first child. The total amount of payoff was about $63,000.
In 2005, we also attended our first Financial Peace University at our church. We started off with more than $104,000 in debt (house, car loan, credit cards, student loans). Slowly but surely we checked off one debt slowly but surely--what an amazing feeling!
By 2012, we had decided to go onto the foreign mission field. We didn't have a lot of supporters nor much monthly support, but as our family motto goes, ..."we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). We sold our house, our cars, everything we owned and packed up and came to Costa Rica in July 2012. The money we received from selling our house helped to pay off some debt but mostly to pay for Language School and schooling for the kids our first year in country. The only debt that we came with was student loans. At the time that we left for the mission field, we had a total of $42,000 left to pay on student loans--we cut the total amount by almost half in the 7 years of trying to apply the Financial Peace principals.
During our time here on the field, it was a huge debt to carry on our shoulders every month. Our support at the beginning was just enough to cover our living expenses and the student loans. But God, in His mercy and grace, provided everything we needed during this time, and never missed a payment. We tried to pay more than we could every chance that we got. Any extra money went toward paying off student loans.
There was one time that Bruce said he wanted to send out a letter to try to get help to pay off student loans. I was not on board. I didn't feel right asking other people to help pay for something that we brought to the mission field. It was MY loan and it was my responsibility. He sent the first letter and we were overwhelmed by the response--God was moving the mountain! It was enough for him to send out a second letter for my 40th birthday surprise. I had no idea that he sent out another request for help--and people responded again! It was in May that he sent out that request and by the end of September, we had the money to pay it off. It was overwhelming to see that people wanted to help and continued to want to help--something that wasn't the responsibility of any of those people who decided to help us. It is the most humbling experience I have ever felt. To know that God loves me so much to help us with this burden that we have been praying over for more than 12 years by sending people who listened to the Holy Spirit--how do you even try to begin to understand that depth of love?
I don't know....but here is the proof:
This is only possible by God's great wisdom, power, love, mercy and grace that this loan was paid off 14 years early--FOURTEEN years early.
I had just come to expect to have to pay that loan for what seemed like eternity.
I started to analyze it:
If I finished paying it off in 2031 (as planned),
Emerson would have been 26 years old
She would have graduated college AND grad school
Leyton would have been 22 years old
He would have been finishing college or starting grad school.
They may have been married.
I could have been a grandmother
I would have still been paying on my student loans.......
ALL PRAISE TO GOD!!!!!!
I could not have done it without Him or His love for me.
So there you have it!
Because of YOUR love and support and prayers,
WE ARE DEBT FREE!!
Thank you to anyone and everyone who was a part of this--whether financially or through prayer! We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives and to love us like family. We are only still here on the field because of people like you who hear God and choose to obey what He has put on your hearts. We are so thankful for you and your obedience. We hope that we are being good stewards of God's money while He has us here in this season of life.
Again, THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!!
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
I believe that Paul had the exact same sentiments as me during this time....here are his words to the Philippian church while he was a prisoner in jail. (why re-make the wheel when Paul expresses so clearly?!)
Philippians 4:10-20
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I
have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
