When our children pass milestones, it is a moment of joy and celebration. The Mustard Seed as an organization has witnessed another milestone, our first Mustard Seed girl going off to university. Another story that causes me to stand in awe of God's grace, though it again also causes me to ask, "How does God work?", or maybe this time "Why? God, why do you put people through what you put them through?"
This young woman is living with an wonderful and caring aunt and uncle after the death of her own parents. They did all they could for her, but hard financial times left them in a place where they would not be able to fund her through her final year of high school. With minimal support from the Mustard Seed they put together the application for the government bursary, and she was one of our girls who qualified for and was funded to complete her last year.
The school she attended was not a strong school, but she worked hard, and passed her final year in the top ten in her school, though that meant only a 2nd class pass. But 2nd class opens tertiary education doors. She carried her determination forward applying to two post secondary institutions. A first choice and a second choice.
In Lesotho, students often end up in their second choice because that is where the funding fits. Her second choice, accepted her application, and the funding body set a final date by which applications for funding to attend that institution needed to be submitted. Once she submitted her application for funding to that institution it would be a challenge to transfer it over to her first choice should she hear from them later.
A resume is required to apply for the funding and I had the joy of helping her with that. I must credit the staff I worked with in Red Deer who, by just rubbing shoulders with me I guess, taught me much about writing a better resume, or CV as they are referred to here. I gave this young woman some instructions on information to gather for her CV. She was a quick study, returning with excellent information to put together a CV, included lots of action words to describe past roles and learnings, and we put together her CV.
The final day came when she had to submit her application to funding for her second choice. She still had not heard from her first choice. But she had everything prepared and dare not miss the chance of post secondary funding. She was at the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) offices first thing that final morning and that is where it seems God began to do his thing. For some reason, the reviewing officer asked why, considering her involvement with the Mustard Seed, she had not included the Mustard Seed as a reference on her CV. Could she also get a last minute letter of reference from the Mustard Seed the office suggested.
At 8:30 she called me explaining her need. Could I help? Ah, the joy of computers. Adding the Mustard Seed as a reference to her CV was completed in short order. Even putting the reference letter together was not all that difficult as I had provided her with one related to a past situation. The bare bones were there, and it was just a matter of amending and adding some updated information. Poverty. She had not the taxi fare to come out to our offices to pick up the letter and updated CV, so I drove the 15 minutes in to the NMDS office. When I arrived I sent a quick text message that I had arrived. A few minutes later, she, with her aunt, walked over. Our Mustard Seed young woman with a difficult to understand look on her face.
She told me she had just received a text message. My first thought was, "Yeah, I just sent one." Then she clarified. She had just received a text message from the National University of Lesotho, her first choice, informing her that she had been accepted!! At the very last minute God intervened. If the staff at NMDS had not asked for the additional information, she likely would have been on her way home by then, having applied for funding to her second choice. Why does God sometimes test one's faith by leaving until the last moment the answer or desire we hope for. Like Abraham who was on the mountain, his son on a alter, his knife raised, before God said "Stop!"
It was tears of relief and joy she shed, as we quietly talked about God and the mystery of how he works - testing, and challenging us to trust him. It is an exciting time for her, and for us at the Mustard Seed. Our first "baby" off to university. She has since been out to the university, we are helping with transport costs and initial registration costs. This week or early next, she will be back at the NMDS offices applying for funding, but this time to the Department of Education, at the National University. What can I say, but that God is good, and we are celebrating his goodness with her.
~ Benno ~
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