I’m smiling as I write this, just reflecting with a full heart on the goodness of God and how He brought me to the GEM family. My connection with GEM started when I traveled to Puerto Escondido in 2018. I started out as a volunteer in our Manantial school, teaching art during the spring semester. I was so impacted by the community of Manantial that I knew I’d be back as soon as possible after my initial time abroad.
The following year, I boarded the plane to Puerto for Round 2 in Mexico with Bible classes in addition to art classes as part of my teaching responsibilities. I also had the privilege that semester of living with one of our student’s families and having the opportunity to be a part of their lives while learning the language and culture of Puerto Escondido. During that year, I really felt the Lord impress upon me His desire for me to pursue a more permanent connection with GEM.
This past spring, I returned to Mexico for the third time and learned about the new office to be opened in North Carolina. After interviewing, I was offered a position working with the new state-side team as Director of Student Sponsorship. I can’t express how thankful I am for the opportunity to be connected with GEM in a deeper way and to be part of the work God is doing in and through us. Being in community with our staff has inspired me to grow in faith and prayer; to be expectant of what God can and will do and to work with the confidence that comes from knowing we serve a God who does no small thing!
Looking back on the steps that brought me to this place, I’ve seen more than ever the seasonal nature of prayer. This year has carried with it many moments in which I’ve been reminded of specific prayers I had prayed years ago. I am now, in this season, seeing the unfolding of God’s will; His answers, the harvest of those prayers. I’m reminded of the example of the persistent widow in Luke 18 who continued faithfully in her request for justice. At the beginning of this passage, we see Jesus teaching us this parable with the specific purpose of encouraging us in prayer.
Luke 18:1-8: And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Like the widow, may we be persistent in our petitions.
May we learn to pray without doubting, knowing intimately the One to whom we pray.
May we remember the unchanging character of the God to whom we pray; that He is a benevolent Father who is for us and not against us.
May we be diligent in prayer in the season of sowing; the season in which we cannot immediately see what is to come.
May we be faithful in tending our prayer life in the season of growth, however small the beginnings may seem.
Finally, may we trust God and rest in the assurance of the finished work of Christ as we await the season of harvest.
Mallory Knight, GEM Missionary