For Our Good and His Glory

It seems unlikely that a phone line could result in our sanctification (becoming like Jesus), but that is exactly what is occurring.

We were told 2 weeks ago today that we’d have a phone line hooked up on Oct. 2nd. That day has come and gone with no phone line, much to our frustration. So last night we called this (horrible) company to try to “sort” out the problem this time. (A side note here, you might say “Find another company.” Believe us, we have tried! There is some sort of monopoly, we have discovered. You can use other companies ONCE you have “rented a line” from the main company. It’s all rather complicated and the company isn’t too motivated to take care of things because they know you can’t go elsewhere.) So last night we were on hold the better part of two hours when we were finally told that we had been transferred (45 minutes ago) to the wrong department. By then it was 10pm, we were tired, had been using our neighbor’s portable phone in our flat, and the company was closing. To date we've called about 7 different times over the past three weeks for a total of 8-9 hours. And today we get to borrow a phone again and add to that.

In this midst of this I have been reminded of the verse that I have been trying to keep at the forefront of my daily dealings with being a new country: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). It has not been my first instinct to praise God that we haven’t had our own phone or internet for a month now, but I can praise Him that He has provided mobiles, internet cafes, libraries and computer labs to stay in touch with our family and the outside world. All those things aren’t quite as accessible and convenient as we’d like them to be, BUT we do have them available!

My job hunting continues and again, though it’s a little more time consuming and difficult without phone/internet, God is still faithful! I got a call this morning from a temp agency offering me a temporary receptionist position with view to stay permanently with them. God is good!

May we continue to be sanctified by whatever means the Lord chooses to teach us by and may He, above all, be glorified for all we have and all we receive and all He does.