Everything happens for a reason

God works in really amazing ways! About 2 weeks ago, the whole group of us for Interterm (about 12) had to go apply for our visas and go to the embassy for our interviews. I checked through and made sure I brought all the documents stated in the reminder email, but still I somehow managed to not be Singaporean enough and left the one extremely important document at home. I was quite upset with myself for not being thorough enough, and especially since I kept causing trouble to the admin for various issues- oops >< And he was quite flustered when I told him about it. 

Then, a classmate from a neighbouring country got rejected. Both of us had to reapply… At the point of time I was scheduling my appointment, I didn’t think of clicking on the earliest available (on Monday) and chose Friday instead, stupidly thinking class would be in the way - and not prioritising the interview - hence got ~scolded~ again oops. I was told to hurry and re-schedule my appointment to Monday, but apparently when I attempted to do so, slots from Monday~Thursday were all gone! So it was back to Friday haha. 

So, this classmate and I happened to have the same appointment at the same day, same time. She’s a very quiet person and keeps to herself most of the time, not sticking to a clique of people etc. In the first few weeks, if we happened to see her in the canteen, we’d ask her to join us~ but that was pretty much it. I’ve barely talked to her in the past 16 weeks… so on that day I got to know more about her. 

She was really nervous for the interview, since it was her nth time applying. She mentioned how it might be because of how flustered she looks when the consulate asks her questions, and being hesitant etc. I just kept telling her to be confident, and encouraging her~ She already decided the end result for herself and prepared to receive the worst. 

When we finally got in after more than an hour’s long wait, we stood waiting for our turn. She was still very nervous, and obviously more nervous than when we were outside. In such circumstances, I only had one thing I wanted to do in my mind. While talking, I asked her if she had a religion. She replied that she is a Christian! I then did the thing I wanted to do: Pray for her. After that we chatted a little about our churches, etc. and I suggested for her to join me sometime~ since she couldn’t feel a sense of belonging to the current church she’s attending. 

After rummaging through her files, she realised she had forgotten to bring her ID photo for the visa. Thankfully there was a photo booth in the room and she went ahead to take a picture. She didn’t have enough Singapore dollars and asked me if she could borrow first. Unfortunately I didn’t have cash on me since I didn’t think I would be needing it. She panicked and packed up her things, telling me that she should “just go, and maybe come back later or something.” I looked at the room full of people, wondering why she was giving up so quickly, especially since it was her nth time applying, and suggested to maybe ask someone, perhaps he would be kind enough to help out. 

The first person she asked kindly agreed to! In turn, he and his friend realised that they had the wrong size ID photo and quickly took their pictures as well before their turn. He exchanged numbers with my friend and agreed to contact each other after exiting the embassy. After all this, my friend was still very nervous… to the point of refusing to sit in front of the counter with the interviewer because she didn’t want the consulate to recognise her. 

I passed my interview really quickly and she was up next. I watched her from the back of the room and continued praying for her. She took a much longer time compared to me, and there was no telling whether she would be rejected or granted. After what seemed like a long time with the consulate, she thanked the consulate profusely and walked up to me, saying she got it! Praise God! It would be awful if she couldn’t get it… furthermore having spent thousands of dollars on plane tickets! She was really surprised by the good outcome. 

We chatted for a little more afterwards, and I learnt about her depression while in school previously. It made me a little sad, because she had such a pessimistic look on life, and I wondered why, especially since she believes in and loves God. She said that she might have lost her “fighting spirit” and she doesn’t like drawing any attention to herself, her only friends are books, etc. I shared a little about having faith because we have God~ but didn’t really continue when the two guys who lent her the money appeared. 

After parting ways after lunch, I *lazily* went home and stayed home for the rest of the day. About 11pm my friends were all about spreading the word about that friend looking for a place to stay at for the night and for the weekend, because she didn’t have her documents to return home. It totally slipped my mind too… because the embassy retains your documents to process the visa! Which meant that she wouldn’t be able to go home, until she collects her documents and the embassy would only open during weekdays. I checked my phone and saw a missed call and an SMS from her… more than an hour ago eep. I quickly called her and she said that she’s stuck at the immigration and she still hasn’t found a place to stay at. I then called my Mom and she was very kind about it, and told me to tell her to come stay at our place for as long as she needs to. 

Before when we were at the embassy, we were talking about how she could come attend my church or care team, and thought of deciding on a date in the future perhaps. Well, since she was going to be staying at my place for the weekend, it was the perfect opportunity to invite her haha~ and so yeah, she came to church with me (: She seemed to really enjoy the acapella singing xD 

So… everything did turn out well! OH BTW, I actually met my secondary school english/form teacher at the embassy :O It took me about 10 minutes of staring and trying to make sure it’s the right person before I sat beside her and said Hi. She shot me question after question like bullets… like a teacher LOL~ it was nice seeing her ^-^ 

It didn’t really make a difference for me to do the interview a week later, but I’m glad that my company might’ve encouraged my friend, even if a little! Praise God & thank God for that opportunity! (: So you see… He works in really amazing ways ;D I’m always thankful for every opportunity He gives for me to love others, even people I don’t know… and sometimes I miss it because I rush for time, and I don’t stop. I always think and regret not turning back and returning to respond to a request for help… but I try my best to~ because God may use me to pass on His love! (: 

We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19 

Don’t say that I’m a nice person… I have a kind & loving God! I love it when I feel this rush of His love inside of me whenever I sincerely choose to do things pleasing to Him :D It’s an extraordinary feeling~ ㅋㅋ