The Unforgettable Event

 It was a thrilling experience when my husband received his admission letter from a university in Zimbabwe to pursue his studies after fifteen years of pastoring , twelve of them with me by his side . We were told that during my husband’s studies , we would be given a half salary and that the church would give us additional financial support . We had also been saving money to further his education . Finally , completing our arrangements , we flew from Kenya to Zimbabwe for his studies .

Very soon , we made several new friends on campus . Everything went very well during the first two years . However , at the beginning of our third year , the situation changed drastically . Not only had we used up all the money we had saved back in Kenya for education but also — for one reason or another — we had not received the promised financial support from the church . These factors led to an acute financial crisis . You see , besides my husband’s working hard to earn good grades , he had also been working day and night to provide for our family’s needs as well as to contribute to his school fees . I did my best to support him in all his endeavors, especially in praying hard for him . I formed a prayer group with my fellow believers: Mrs. . Mugadza, Mama Hope , and Night . I would share my prayer requests with them. They also knew how hard I was working to raise money to help provide for our family needs .

The most unforgettable experience during this time was when our barrel of food became exhausted! I asked my husband, “Are you aware that in the next three days, we shall have no more food in the house? How shall we survive? ” He told me that God would provide. At the end of that third day, I scheduled to meet with someone. When I arrived, I was told that a good Samaritan had offered to feed us for the next whole year , and he did so !

Sisters, “ when my father and my mother forsake me , Then the LORD will take care of me ” ( Psalm 27:10, NKJV ) . How true that “God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble ” ( Psalm 46 : 1 , KJV ) !

May we always trust in Him regardless of the hardships we suffer.

Naomi N . Otore