“MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD”
God is great. You are free to believe whatever you want; we all have been given free will to choose the path that we take in life. Seek the truth and seek God, and you will find Him. With the free will we have, what would you choose to do then? Some seek to better their lives while others choose to follow the purpose God has for them. One thing is for sure when God calls you He will surely provide for you.
Pastor Marieta “Mayet” Gardon, IT missionary, has been serving the Lord in Cambodia for years and she enjoys the path she took as the Lord called her to become a missionary.
Pastor Mayet had the desire to be an educator since she was young. Because of poverty, it wasn’t easy for her to get a degree in education, but the Lord came to her aid and He equipped her and trained her for what He had in mind for her life. God brought the right people in her life who can help her prepare herself to be the person God intended her to be.
Her friends introduced her to International Teams Philippines, a mission-sending organization. She mentioned that when she joined IT, she was praying to go on missions in Papua New Guinea, but the Lord wanted her to go to Cambodia. She saw how God prepared her way to go to Cambodia. God provided for her ticket, and pocket money and guided her to reach Cambodia safely as she traveled by herself in September 2012.
For three years, she was a tentmaker. She was one of the teachers at Emmanuel International School. It is a school founded by pioneering IT missionaries in Cambodia. Then the Lord prompted her to take a leap of faith and to go full-time in the ministry. Pastor Mayet decided to follow the Lord. She rented a place where she could teach English and the Gospel to the less fortunate kids. She didn’t have any income, so she was fully dependent on God’s provision to sustain the ministry. The Lord used different people to provide for the needs of Pastor Mayet.
Pastor Mayet recalled one New Year’s Day when she received $90. With the amount she received, she kept it so she could use it for any expenses she might have in the future as she plans to move to a better place to teach the children. A few days later, she asked the Lord to provide a better place for the children. She was teaching the kids in a destitute shelter and she believes that God can do more for those who put their trust in Him. She prayed “Lord, You are more than capable of moving us to a better place, let the people know that I am serving a Great and an Almighty God who can do exceedingly in the lives of His children”. For months, Pastor Mayet fervently prayed to God to move them and she knows that since it is the Lord’s ministry, He will be the one to provide for it.
She found a newly built building and God provided for the rent deposit. It was in March when she started the new ‘Joy Care Center’ and even the teaching materials were all provided by Pastor Mayet's acquaintance. However, after a few months, she encountered a financial problem. She didn’t have the money to pay for the rent of the center they were using. She admitted that she was tempted to solve the problem by her might, but the Lord had His ways of providing for her. One of her missionary friends in Thailand called her and asked her to meet some missionaries from Africa and America traveling to Cambodia. She met them and she brought them to a restaurant to have a meal. They started talking and they asked about what Pastor Mayet was doing in Cambodia before they even finished their meal, they handed her an envelope that had 3,000 Baht in it. It was more than the 2,000 Baht she needed! Pastor Mayet was glad that she didn’t take matters into her hands and it was proof that God will sustain His children who do His will. “God is really good, He provided for our needs exceedingly. Indeed, my help comes from the Lord!” Pastor Mayet commented.
Even now, the rent of the Joy Care Center is being provided and despite the pandemic, someone paid for the rental of the center for a full year! Pastor Mayet was able to aid in the education of some of the kids under her care and sent them to semi-private schools to study further while she teaches them English and the Gospel. Pastor Mayet has been staying in Cambodia for eight years now and she continues to serve God and the others wholeheartedly. The sacrifices she made for others became a catalyst for change in the hearts and lives of those around her.
God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. He is an awesome, wonderful God and mighty in power. He’s the author of wisdom and He will reign forevermore! Therefore, let’s lift our hands and give the highest of praise to Him!
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Written by: Venus Jablo)