T&J
Our first time setting foot in the Singapore Sending Base is still a vivid memory despite it being a decade ago: a barbecue in 2012, where we met many (including the International Leadership Team) who are now like family to us. This is how we have heard people describe WEC: a family for us who serve cross-culturally.
Although we are not Singaporean, WEC Singapore adopted us into their fold. We had our candidate orientation there and played games together. While our own family members did not come to visit us when we were on the field, WEC members did; they sent us care packages, dropped us texts and remembered us in their prayers.
One sister was among the first to connect us to WEC. She spoke often at our church about her time abroad and invited church members to WEC events. It was through her encouragement that I persisted in getting international accreditation for my professional counselling work.
When going through orientation, the future (and the mission field) is but a distant possibility… One does not know what to expect. One can possibly never imagine what is in store. In wisdom, this sister recommended that I get qualified before setting out to the field.
At the time, I felt that I was doing a lot of work for something less than a possibility. Needing to take care of a young child and another newborn, delicately balancing schedules to rush off to work in the evenings while my husband took care of the little ones at home… Countless hours and monetary investment did not seem to pay off. A year of paperwork resulted in a rejected application and despair – what was all that hard work for? Me of little faith just sat in tears, confused.
However, the way was not revealed until some four years later. God finally moved mountains to allow me to get licensed in a foreign country all because of this one certification. It would not have happened without this piece of paperwork. We walk in faith, not knowing what the future holds.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)