My "Ingni" coat

I have been asked many times about why I do what I do for God. I guess when we train ourselves to not grow tired of remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives, our gratefulness increases that would cause our hearts to serve the One who never gets tired of showering us with things we know, we don’t deserve.

A grateful heart encompasses a servant hand.

8 years ago, I came here in Japan to walk towards an unchartered dream, -to be an English teacher. I had to go through a risky and hard road as a language student where I paid around 800,000 Yen (it has increased tremendously through the years) excluding agency fee and my daily commuting and food expenses to study Japanese language, one of the top difficult languages to learn.

Risky financially and draining mentally.

Another crucial thing is, should no company sponsor a working visa for me prior to my student visa’s expiration, I’d have to go home and accept loss of money, time and dream.

Even when the Lord is silent, He is working.

I applied to almost every possible school that offers Visa sponsorship but I received denial after denial as soon as they heard that I was under a student visa; probably because of some additional tedious paperwork that come with changing it into working visa.

While I was waiting, I was serving.

Even though I was still learning about my new-found-faith, a personal relationship with Jesus, I knew I had to offer what I have at hand. Imagine being tasked to co-lead singles at church towards Christ when you, yourself were still learning about Him.

While I was serving, He was working in me.

Being the controller that I was, there were nights when I’d wake up in the middle of the night out of anxiety knowing there’s a big chance that no one would sponsor my visa. Although I got hired at an International school as a part timer, they couldn’t help me with my visa problem.

Days were escaping me fast, still, there was none. I came to a point when I doubted if the Lord really wanted me here in Japan, because if so, why hasn’t He moved? Why wasn’t He answering my prayers? Was He even listening? To say the least.

I vividly remember when I and my sister were at Ingni, a Japanese clothing store and I wanted to buy a winter coat that cost around 9,900 yen (It was expensive for me since I was only working part time). I wanted it so bad but I was hesitant to spend money on something I might not be able to use if my visa says “Japan isn’t for you.”

But I took the risk.

I trusted God on a promise He clearly whispered at the core of my heart…

"Magkaka Visa ka"

He promised and He delivered in a very amazing way, a way everyone would see it’s only possible with Him.

A Filipino teacher went back home to the Philippines for 1 month that her dispatch company needed a substitute teacher at a Technical school ASAP. I got hired and was given a 1 year visa for a 1 month substitute work, not to mention I didn’t have any experience teaching at technical schools.

My Instructor Visa was released on December 22, 2015. My student visa's expiration was on December 26, 2015. 4 days!

4 days before it expired, the Lord has proven to me that no mountain is too tall for Him to climb and no sea is too deep for Him to part. Indeed, nothing is impossible with Him. In fact, He specializes on seemingly impossible circumstances.

My Ingni coat is still with me (Kahit di na kasya masyado! LOL) because it’s my Ebenezer that I go back to, to remember that the same God who dried the Jordan River for the Israelites to crossover unscathed is the same God who loves me and cares and works for me as I wait, trust and serve Him.

What is your Ingni coat? Something you can keep to remember His faithfulness. I believe we all have “parting of the Red sea” moments with God. Would you recall them intentionally and ask yourself..

“Have I been giving back even a small portion of what He’s given me?” “Am I serving Him?”

If not, it’s never too late to start. Come and offer what you can until you can.

Ebenezer -Hebrew ebhen hā-ʽezer stone of help; from the application of this name by Samuel to the stone which he set up in commemoration of God's help to the Israelites in their victory over the Philistines at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:12)

Merriam Webster