#2023GivingThanks 2

Testimony 2023:

Praise God and His name alone will be glorified.

It's been a year after my surgery and where I was taken into hospital in emergency after the surgery. God has been my Healer. I was asked to travel to U.K. and I was wondering rather than doubting will I be able to manage. Though it was short term I was just out of my health issues. When we checked with our Doctor, she asked me not to worry and say Yes stating I will be alright. The same day, I was someone on lift with me in office that day suddenly appearing. He was wearing a formals with coat suite and tie. I shouted being afraid of someone appearing to you suddenly in a closed lift. But no one was hearing me but security watched me over camera and came to my floor when the lift was opening asking me if I am alright. They said suddenly I started shouting and no one was with me in the lift. Not to make myself to put in a situation where no one will believe me, I said I am ok and left to my place. This started happening often but later I stopped shouting and this person will simply smile at me. Though I felt some peace when he was near me, I didn't have the guts to ask anything. It went for 3 days and at last I had a courage to ask who are you? But ended up with no reply and later I didn't see Him. And I didn't hear anything from my management as well on my on site plan. I didn't put my mind on it as from the start I didn't have any plans going outside of India. With prayer and giving it to God's will, myself and my husband prayed on this. Suddenly one day when I was at my house working, I saw this person again who spoke to me at last stating He came to announce something and I will be getting a call from my manager now to get ready and I have to say yes. In 2 mins I got a call and I said I am ready to go. Visa interview was His grace and we went to the wrong station and was waiting for train for a longer period realizing before 30 mins that we were in a wrong station. Then booking the cab, and in the traffic of Chennai, I was 100%that I wouldn't be able to reach on time. But what happened was a miracle. Because the driver suddenly went into so many streets stating he is avoiding traffic. And I was about to get tended but suddenly I saw the same angel sitting in the front row and smiling that everything will be ok. I went in before 5 mins and no questions were asked. When they took the final photo and asked me to leave, I was questioning back "was it really over?". I came out in 10 mins and my husband was like, "what happened? You went late? They rejected? They didn't allow you? Or you changed your mind?". I explained him what happened inside and was surprised. 

When the day came to start my trio, I started getting sick due to anxiety but God helped me out and I didn't get a room to stay till the day of my trip. Those who promised that they will get a room for me disappeared and some said sorry at last minute. Then my husband told me you started trusting so much on these people than God. Then I confessed and was about to book a hotel for few days. But, suddenly I got remember of my cousin and I gave a call to him who invited me to their house for that week. In a week, with the help of his church pastor, by God's grace I got a seperare room with an Indian believer family with the low cost than my other colleagues whobtravelled with me got a shared room with a common toilet for more cost. 

Also, I was not allowed to cook stating they will provide food for me. I am a picky eater so first I was hesitating but God helped me to eat healthy food without any issues. 

The best part was for the first two month my client manager was so harsh on me. I was not knowing why. Meanwhile I was spending so much time with my colleague on weekends roaming around. Later two months I started questioning myself 2 months gone and I have only 4 months and what is the purpose I came here. I started attending so many churches untill I found one which I found for me. Then last four months were alone time with God. I stopped spening time with others. Weekend, I will just go to parks with a back pack which will have a book, a bible and my pens and notebook. The whole day I will be there studying, watching the nature, talking with Him. He started changing me. I started sensing the change on me which reflected in my workplace as well. For eg I am not a person who initiates conversation.  My work was to manage stakeholders where I have to talk. But I am not that person. However, He gave me that courage to interact with everyone in office and take initiatives. One complaint that my client manager had was I didn't go and introduce myself to everyone which I felt odd. I will wait till they talk but she saw the change happening and God started giving favor in the eyes of my stakeholders especially my client manager. 

Even one house keeping lady will not clean my desk and stated that she hated me. I thought once it was because of my color but she was so ok with my colleague. Once when I asked her, she said I am a Christian. From that day, I started greeting her and will say God loves you everyday. She started getting irritated with me and said that she is going to complain. But I never withholded. I was continuing.  When I was about to leave from there she hugged me :). I am still praying for her.

Reg my health,  when I went from here my HB was only 7.5, I was getting allergies sometimes but He covered me under His wings and helped me through out. 

  Last four months, He helped me learn so many things and also helped me enjoy nature and even protected me from a bus accident and a dog which was about to bite me when I was sitting in park under a tree praying. The owner of the dog asked me sorry and said it haven't behaved like this. Best part was it was just barking at me and trying to bite me from 2 feet distance but couldn't reach me. The dog owner was surprised that how it didnt attack me after coming till there. 

I understood that the 6 months was just to get closer with Him. I had so many things in my mind like God is going to use me there for a ministry. But, I heard him Whisper in a service, "Carolin, come back to Bethel - to the altar of your first love.. the place where you started with me. Away from everything and it is only You and Me". It left me with goosebumps. 

I was also appreciated by my clien manager who first thought I am of no use and recommended my management to send me back.

He helped me to return safely without any health issues as well. 

I am not sure what the future holds and what I will do with the learnings but I believe the One who holds my future and leaving it to Him alone!!!