Iwant to start by saying “to God be the glory. He never fails to amaze me!”
I arrived in this country in 2001, I was unsaved but God has always had a special place in my heart though I wasn’t ready to commit to the Christian lifestyle. One day, in 2005, I was on my way home when I met a lady on the bus from Victory Church who invited me to church. I brushed her off by saying “yeah, yeah”, and gave it no further thought.
A few months later I was at home feeling depressed and just missing my home in Jamaica; Then I remembered someone telling me about a church in Willesden, so I set off to find this church. I was living in Northolt at the time so I got the 140 bus which would connect me to a bus to Willesden. Just as I got off the 140 bus, the lady from Victory was sitting at the bus stop across the road. I went over to her and ended up going with her to church. The message from the platform that day spoke directly to my heart, and I gave my life to Christ there and then! Since that day my life has changed completely.
I just want to say a big thank you to the Pastors for allowing God to use them; it is because of their submission to God and their teaching that my life will never be the same. I can truly say that “I am a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have been made new”. God has taken me from being a shy and easily intimidated person, to working in His house as an usher and most recently going out to share His love with the outreach ministry.
Last year was a really tough year for me; I lost one of the jobs that I had and was only left with my term time job which was not enough to pay my bills, so I moved in with my brother and his wife.
One evening in May, I went home from work and on arriving I was unable to get in, the locks had been changed! Things had not been great, but I was not expecting this! I stood there for a while in shock and disbelief. This was about 7pm, I had no credit and nowhere to go. I decided to keep riding the buses until someone called.
I was on a bus that was going to Golders Green, when Jennifer called. I told her what had happened, and she offered me a place for the night. God is just sooo amazing!
On November 25, 2009, I was on my way home when I met a previous housemate who told me that a letter was at the house for me, I had not been back to the house to collect my mail in a long time as most of the mail sent to me there was junk mail, but I decided to go there anyway. The letter was from my solicitor. The Home Office was requesting further documents that had to be submitted in one week, some people may call this coincidence.
One of the documents requested was a letter from my GP; I went to the GP on the Friday to request the letter, but the Receptionist told me that it would take 2 weeks for the letter to be ready. I explained the urgency, but she insisted that it was procedure. As I walked away I whispered “God I really need this letter”. All the documents had to be submitted on the Monday as the solicitor wanted to go through them. On the Friday evening, I received a call from my GP to say that the letter was ready and could be picked up on Monday. Once again, some people may say that’s coincidence.
God supernaturally put everything in place, so that by that Monday I was able to take all documents to the solicitor. I felt very positive because God’s hand was evident.
On Christmas Eve last year, I received a phone call from my solicitor congratulating me; I had been granted indefinite leave. What better present could I ask for: the right to stay in the UK and the chance to see my son again after 9 years!
The actual stamp was placed in my passport on 14th of December; within four days of the Home Office receiving my documents. Coincidence? I don’t think so! With God nothing happens coincidentally or by luck. His favour is far greater. What seems impossible to men is possible with God.
“What seems impossible to men is possible with God.”
I want to encourage anyone who is in a similar position, remember that God is in control! He sees your pain and he’s bottling your tears. It takes 9 months for a baby to be developed in the womb – and after 9 months of pain and uneasiness the child is born. So it was with me it took me 9 years of pain and uneasiness for my papers to come through, but in my time of waiting I have developed so much. I can now be a better mother, a better friend, and a better listener to my son. So keep on believing and keep on dreaming as Pastor always says “if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count”. Surround yourself with Godly friends (pray for discernment), be careful of who you share your dreams with (even in Church). Make yourself a vision board (made of pictures that you are believing for) and place it where you can see it everyday. Hold on to God’s word (Proverbs 3:5) because He that begun a good work in you is sure to complete it.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who had prayed, fasted and believed with me for this day!
Debbie Douglas