The Journey Starts

The eight of August marked the six month anniversary of my daughter and my return back to London after spending over seven years in the United States of America. Never thought we would come back, except to visit, as we wanted a better opportunity for both of us and also we wanted to be able to live the classic American dream.

Before leaving, I was a catholic, that believed and knew GOD, because of what I was told growing up, and of what I read in the bible. Now I can say without hesitating that I am a Christian, who has  a deep knowledge of GOD and that I have a very intimate relationship with GOD. This did not happen overnight or by chance. Instead of my move to the USA being peachy, it turned into a nightmare literally from the very beginning. Well laid plans fell apart, friends and family scammed us and turn their backs on us. Before moving, I had prayed about the move, made what I thought were solid plans with regards to school for my daughter and myself, secured jobs, where we were going to live, up to more than enough money to sustain us for over a year etc.

Well, I had my plans, but GOD had his and even though this might have been the work of the enemy, GOD turned it around. It was during these terrible years, in the midst of some of the most horrible scenarios, that I got to know GOD for who he was, a provider, healer, comforter, father, friend and all his many attributes. During our stay in the USA, we had  to move ten times in a space of two years, we even spent a night in an abandoned house and unknowingly rented a room in a drug house, after being kicked out of where we were staying in North Carolina for no apparent reason or excuse, ending up in New Jersey, staying with contacts we had known over the past years. Believe you me, I tried to return to London several times, but for some unknown reason, GOD would not allow it! With no one to turn to, money from my accounts stolen, and the scenario of Will Smith’s character in Pursuit of Happiness looming, GOD sent help from the most unlikely sources.

We learnt to trust GOD, believed him and grew to love him and not blame him for all that was happening. We found an awesome church in Pennsauken- The Living Hope Christian Center, if you ever are in New Jersey, you have to visit it, you will be blessed! In Living hope, we learnt amongst other things about faith and Praise and worship. My faith grew as it was constantly being fed by God’s word and positivity. I started learning how to trust people again, an discovered that not everyone’s pain and struggle was the same as mine and that even though things might look great on the outside, it’s not always that clear cut internally. Most importantly, I learnt not to put my hopes on man, but on GOD, because even though it is man that might do you a favor, it is GOD that directs man to bless you.

Looking back now, I don’t even know how GOD did it, and even though we were sustained, protected for about seven years, we were only able to form real relationships with only a few people. Somehow there was a deep seated longing for more. We knew we were made for so much more than what we had. We were not thriving as we should. Was it purpose? Was it GOD trying to tell us something? Once again the scenario that happened seven years ago crept up again, but this time instead of being frightened people, we turned to the one person who had all the answers. Our father the one and only GOD. He spoke to both my daughter and me that it was time for us to return to London???? His plan and purpose were for us to be in London. How???? We had sacrificed so much. What about our plans, our dreams, our hopes?? Well at this point we were jobless, penniless, about to be evicted as we could not pay our rent, so how could we afford the air fares, where were we going to live in London as all ties over in London had been severed, with the exception of my son, because of several reasons. Yet in just over three months, GOD in his faithfulness, grace and mercy, provided the rent to keep us where we  were about to be evicted, provided the airfares and everything we needed to get to London! The icing on the cake is that we returned to the home we left over seven years ago, the home we thought we had lost! It was literally how we left it. Of course there were issues that we had to deal with, but GOD was in control. Through these troubled years, there were two Bible verses that were always in my spirit. The entire Psalm 46 and Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

When we left, my faith was probably smaller than a mustard seed, more like a grain of sand, but now, it has been fed by my journey and experience and it’s about the size of the mustard tree itself!! (Smile)