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| Jorge & I -2018 |
The story I am about to share is our own. My husband Jorge is from Ecuador, South America, and we met while I taught English there for a year. He arrived to the United States in October of 2007 on a fiancé visa, and we were married that December. From then on we began our journey together.
Jorge had a secure and well-paying job in Ecuador as a computer engineer in one of the biggest phone companies. At the time I remember being so in love that I didn’t seem to worry at all about how life in the United States would be for him; I simply trusted that God would provide.
The beginning months of his stay here were filled with learning English, a language he barely understood at the time and could hardly speak, in addition to applying for a green card and all the paperwork, time, and energy that entailed. I received a position as a long-term sub ESL teacher, which we were grateful for, as a means of financial support. Every day while I was at work my husband would diligently study English via a software program we had bought. Over the next few months Jorge began to feel more comfortable communicating in this foreign language for him, and even started applying for jobs in his field, some of which looked promising. Yet, despite countless interviews, nothing ever opened up.
After only a few weeks of job searching that winter, the economy collapsed. It seemed no one was hiring anymore, and all the potential positions and postings we had set our hopes on had vanished right before our eyes. Instead of giving up, Jorge decided that spring to begin applying for other types of jobs including working at McDonald’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell, as a way of beginning again in a new place. To our great surprise, even these lower-end positions were not being offered to him despite his repeated attempts to speak with managers and make a good impression. Weeks after no response from several franchises, the signs “Now Hiring” remained outside. It hit me as I sat and watched him being interviewed for a summer job at an ice cream shop that racism was definitely a factor. The way he was treated by the lady conducting that interview was so inhumane that I wanted to scream and run out. Somehow I didn’t, and remained silent. In my mind I asked myself, “When would this time of waiting for a job end? When could we ‘continue on’ with our lives here? When would Jorge feel like he was a part of society, and not a burden on it or on me?”
Months turned into years, and countless times we had to kneel and cry out to God in order to once again receive His comfort and peace. Nevertheless, what stuck with both of us since Jorge’s arrival to this country was always that God had a plan; his firm reassurance sustained us in these uncertain times.
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| Bible study & game night! 2008 |
During the years that Jorge was job-searching, we were devoting our free time to international students at a local university. Jorge prepared Bible studies on Friday evenings as part of a Christian ministry they had running on campus. Saturday evenings God put on our hearts to open up our apartment to host these international students for another Bible study and game night. So many students started coming that we had to move the meeting to my parents’ home! These times are unforgettable memories for us, and them. We shared our hearts, our lives, our faith, and our holidays with these foreigners away from their own families. Many of them came to know Christ as their Savior, and others had the seed of faith planted in them.
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| Gift exchange party at my parents’ home |
After a few years a short-term debt collector position opened up for Jorge in which he could utilize his bilingualism. It was not an enjoyable job as you can imagine, but we were thankful for something. Half a year later that position ended and more months passed. I became pregnant and three months later had a miscarriage. Losing a baby made my heart ache so deeply. Nothing seemed to be going right. Yet again, God whispered His presence over our hurting hearts and HE alone wiped away the tears, bitterness, and doubt that tried to consume us.
Suddenly, out of the blue it seemed, an acceptance letter came from Buffalo State College. It was a miracle to us! Jorge had been applying to study at some local schools, but due to his prior education being in Ecuador the doors to other places and universities had always closed. The next blessing was even beyond our wildest dreams: Jorge was offered a position as a graduate assistant in the computer department, which would pay for his entire education over the next year and a half! We were stunned and overjoyed!
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| 23 weeks pregnant! 2010 |
The fall before Jorge started classes, I lost my long-term substitute job and had to apply to teach in other school districts. God provided another full-time permanent teaching position, and I became pregnant again!
Well, Jorge began studying in May of 2010, and the following May our first baby, a little boy, was born! He officially graduated in December of 2011 with a Master’s in Educational Technology. What an accomplishment, after only four years of having arrived to a country in which he couldn’t even communicate; we knew it was only by God’s grace that this was possible.
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| Luke 1 week old |
The following spring I was expecting our second little boy. Despite being filled with a great sense of joy and delight, fear began to take over as more time elapsed without Jorge finding a job. We were still in the one-bedroom apartment as well, hoping for at least a slightly bigger place to call “home” by the time our second son would arrive. During all this time of waiting, some people came alongside us and loved us, and others lost hope.
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| Luke’s first bath at home! |
Five years after Jorge came to the United States, God opened a big door. It is a testament to God’s goodness and provision in our lives: God provided a job for Jorge in his field, at a local university, which started the day after we moved into a beautiful house! A funny way that God reaffirmed this new job was that the colors of the building where Jorge would work, the number of floors, and even the number of employees were all practically identical to the job he had left in Ecuador 5 years prior! In addition, there are several employees here who speak Spanish and are from other countries, just like Jorge. There are many details that I had to leave out in attempting to be concise, but suffice it to say this job came at the eleventh hour, but in God’s perfect timing. Of course Jorge and I both expected and desired for him to begin working years earlier, but God knew best. Thanks to this experience, we are more loving and empathetic people. God used this trial to shape and mold us more into His image, His masterpiece.
All this is to say: trust God. Don’t trust yourself, others, or anything material around you. The God that I know is Jesus, and He is the only One worthy of such trust because He laid down His life for me and you. Many reject Him and don’t see who He truly is: Our Heavenly Father who longs to take care of us here on this earth and spend eternity with all those who have believed in Him and what He has done.
Despite the uncertainty in our lives and the fear, anxiety, or downright deception that surrounds us, I implore you to lean on Him. Yet remember, He desires not only to be sought in your life when things get rough, but for you to praise Him when the blessings come as well.
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| Our family~Christmas 2018 |
TREES OF HOPE, shining OUR GOD of ETERNAL HOPE for the world to behold! Thank YOU for testimonies of YOUR Hand, oh Lord.
Please leave a comment and share any recent or previous testimonies of God’s provision, love, and grace in your lives, dear ones!
Thank you for letting me know that it makes a difference to share our personal testimony. God is good, and I am grateful to be able to give Him the credit that only He deserves. God bless you always, my dear.
Krystal thank you for sharing your amazing stories. You and Jorge Luis have conquered so much with the guide and love of God. What a wonderful testimony of hope and faith. Please continue sharing. You inspire me every time!
Thank you very much for your comment! Although this provision happened almost seven years ago now, I never want to forget it. And, I want to remember the faith He gave us so that I will trust His provision for our future. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Such a touching and inspiring testimony of your live with Jorge! I feel blessed that we got to know know and shared your spiritual journey in those years. Your faith and trust in God is strong and beautiful, I pray that God will continue His work in both of you so you can be a blessing to whosoever comes into contact with you! Love you both!