Remember my heaven-sent meeting of 11-year old Michael and his mother Lucy in the blog Toothache from Heaven? How they began attending the community women’s Bible study? Well, since then Lucy and Michael have continued coming each Tuesday and Thursday night to hear teachings from the Bible.
The day after I met Ate Lucy, while I was visiting other women in the neighborhood, I saw Ate Lucy. She told me that her husband had been healed from the inflamed arthritis! Praise God! I asked Ate Lucy if I could visit with her one afternoon. We set a date. I arrived with a bag full of rice and a loaf of bread, compliments to any Asian meal, so I thought.
When inviting me into her house that afternoon, Ate Lucy was 
embarrassed about its size: Her house consists of a room that is the size of a small closet or bathroom in most American homes (see the picture to the right). There are no chairs or furniture. We sat on the concrete floor somewhat covered with mismatched linoleum tile pieces. They have a plastic dresser, and a gas camping stove for cooking. But currently they do not have any gas. It costs too much to refill. There’s no running water or electricity, and a curtain hides their corner hole (toilet). Eight people live in this home–four adults (including a special needs 26 year old) and four children. When I visited, there was barely enough room for me and the family members present when I visited. I couldn’t imagine cramming more people in the room and then trying to sleep, especially in this hot climate.
Yet I felt right
at home. God has given me such a love for this family, and through God’s perfect timing with the dentist, the family has this extraordinary love for me too. Our visit was such a sweet time. Immediately when I arrived, Ate Lucy said in her broken English “I want to express praise to the God for giving my husband a job.” Yes, praise the LORD is right! Another quickly answered prayer. God provided Henry with a 2-month job of staining wood. Could God be wooing this family to Him through answered prayers?
When I first met Ate Lucy and family, she looked so disheartened, without lasting joy. I was unsure whether or not she had a personal relationship with Jesus. During our visit, I was able to share with her Truth from the Bible, including how to know Jesus personally. Ate Lucy, Michael, and sister Joy all confessed Jesus as Savior! Praise Jesus! After this home visit, I see that Ate Lucy does have a relationship with Him. I wonder if she accepted Him sometime in between when I first met her and when I visited with her, after she saw God’s faithful answers to our prayers. Or perhaps during that visit day. Or maybe a long time ago. Whenever Jesus and Lucy’s relationship began, I see God spiritually growing Ate Lucy tremendously each day. And I see the joy of the Lord in Michael and his sister as well.
This past week’s Bible study was about listening to God, through the Word and through prayer. We allowed for a time at the end of the meeting to hear God’s voice by “being still and knowing He is God.” On the walk home, Ate Lucy confided in me that she heard the Lord speak to her, but that she was embarrassed to share what He said. She would share with me next time I saw her. (Please pray that she will have boldness to share with me and, more importantly, continue to listen to God!) She also mentioned in passing that she applied for a cook’s position.
A couple days later, Ate Lucy did not show up for our Bible study; her son, my dear friend Michael, continues to come, ask questions, and thank me afterward for the “stories” (lesson) each time. The reason Ate Lucy did not come to Bible study: Lucy received the cook’s position! Praise God! Another blessing and prayer answered! The unfortunate part is that the family does not have enough money for public transportation for the mom to make the 45 minute commute every day. So Ate Lucy stays with her employers, only getting one day off a week. She will spend six days away from her family, and one day 
(Thursday afternoon to Friday midday) at home with her family. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless this family with steady income (the husband’s current job is not enough to eat and pay school bills). Also please ask God that Ate Lucy will be able to live at home and enjoy more time with her family.
A few days ago, I indirectly found out the content of my friend’s meals: Rice. The end. Not rice and…. Just rice. Every meal. Every day. So my “meal supplements” of rice and bread were actually consumed as a couple meals. I also found out that Ate Lucy’s favorite meal is spaghetti, a popular treat in the Philippines. A couple days ago, I purchased the makings for a spaghetti dinner, complete with canned veggies, and of course rice and bread. (Thank you to my friends from Heritage Church in TN for making this special treat possible, as well providing the other meal to this family! See how far your hands and prayers reach!). It will be a great belated birthday dinner for Ate Lucy, since she was working away from her family last week on her birthday. I cannot wait until she returns home on Thursday so I can the family the spaghetti dinner fixings. We have much to celebrate about God’s miraculous works and His faithfulness!
