An Unexpected Prophecy
Growing up we all got asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In 2008 it was my turn to decide what I wanted to do after finishing high school. Throughout my childhood, I was tossing up between becoming a teacher or a paediatric nurse. Both appealed to me because both involved caring for children and NOT an office job. I ended up pursuing nursing because I thought being a teacher I would have to bring work home (which I was not prepared to do), but as a nurse, I would not have to bring my patients home. During my nursing course, a prophet prophesied over me – he saw that I was surrounded by a lot of children and that I would go to Asia to be a missionary. I understood the first part of the prophecy as I had always loved children, had worked part-time as a babysitter and was heavily involved in Sunday School ministry at the time. However, what caught me (and I was sure some people in the church) by surprise was me being a missionary in Asia. Being a missionary sounded scary and in Asia? Well, those who know me know that Asia is not a place on my bucket list. Despite this, I chose to remember this prophecy and was keen to see it come to pass one day.
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” – 2 Peter 1:21
An Unanswered Prayer
After completing my nursing course, it was time to apply for a job. I wanted to specialise in paediatrics and held strong onto the prophecy, thinking that was where God wanted me to be. I could not imagine being any other specialised nurse other than a paediatric nurse. When I didn’t get accepted into a graduate program at the Royal Children’s Hospital, I cried my eyes out. My dreams just shattered right in front of me. I pondered on where I had gone wrong and why God did not answer my prayer despite knowing my passion for children. I thought maybe God wanted me to be exposed to adult nursing first before specialising in paediatric nursing. I was reminded of the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I knew God had the best plan set out for me and decided to go with it.
Everything For A Reason
I started my graduate year in adult nursing in 2012, at Western Health (WH). I gained a lot of knowledge in adult nursing that year. With the knowledge and skills I acquired, I was able to provide emergency medical assistance to three adults on three separate occasions in the community, including my mother’s customer. I realised the reason God put me through adult nursing even though it was not my desire at the time. Approaching the end of my graduate year I decided to apply for a paediatric program the following year at WH. I was told by many colleagues that the paediatric program at WH was extremely competitive and that my chance of getting in was close to impossible since I had no experience in paediatric nursing. Despite this I decided to apply, knowing if it was the will of God, nothing would be impossible! There were 30 applicants for the 3 positions in the paediatric program that year. Praise God I was one of the successful applicants! For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). I commenced the paediatric program in 2013 and was rotated through the paediatric ward, emergency department and Special Care Nursery. The paediatric program was amazing, I was exposed to a wide range of settings and patients. I gained a lot of paediatric knowledge and skills. After my paediatric year I found myself in a situation where a child needed emergency medical help in the community and praise God yet again I was able to assist.
Knowing my paediatric program would come to an end by the end of that year, I thought about where I wanted to go next. Even though I loved paediatric nursing, I also thoroughly enjoyed adult nursing and did not want to lose skills in either area. I decided to work as a casual nurse which would allow me to work with both adult and paediatric patients. With the flexibility of my casual work, I started thinking about studying Early Childhood Teaching. How amazing it would be to do both nursing and teaching, a dream job for me. I applied for a post-graduate diploma in early childhood teaching and commenced my studies in 2014. After graduating from early childhood teaching, I decided to work as a casual teacher to get exposure to different centres and kindergartens before settling in a place where I would find comfortable working long term. Working casually in both nursing and teaching was great, I was getting casual pay, I could choose which days I wanted to work, and take leave without having to wait for the approval. However, the issues with casual work were that I had to wait for a call each day to see if I had work, and sometimes I was called as early as 5am for a morning nursing shift, having no paid leave and no sick leave.
However, God has always provided me with good health and work for most days I was available. Having two professions also helped with getting consistent work. When I made myself available for a morning nursing shift and was not offered a shift, I then made myself available for a teaching shift. If there was no teaching shift, I could put myself down for an afternoon or night nursing shift. It taught me to not worry, to rely on and to have faith in God, as I did not know whether I would get work that day or the next.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” – Matthew 6:25-27
Everything for His glory
In 2016 Reach Community Church had its first mission trip to the Philippines. The Philippines was a country I was interested in, only because I had been told by many people that I look like a Filipino. My parents even joke with me to this very day that I was adopted. I must say, it is an honour to be mistaken as a Filipino as they have many beautiful features and have won many Miss Universe titles. There was nothing holding me back from going on this mission trip, so I packed my bags and told my parents that I was going to find my Filipino parents in the Philippines. I also wondered if this was God’s prophecy coming true. I did not know what to expect or what to do but trusted that God would use me to bless others, for His glory. During the mission trip, I taught First Aid 2-3 times a day to different groups of people at different locations. I taught basic life support for adults, paediatrics and neonates, and practical basic first aid skills. I was exhausted from teaching in a hot and humid climate with only fans to keep me cool, but with the strength of God I pushed on as I knew I was doing this for His glory. I also organised a children’s program for over 100 children at a massive crusade event. I asked God for help and wisdom on how to engage the children and to direct them to Christ. I thank God I had help from others and an amazing translator who assisted me. The event was a success! And there I was, in Asia as a missionary surrounded by children. God’s prophecy had come true! God is never early nor late, His timing is always perfect.
