Peter’s Wife started as a way to encourage and connect wives and moms serving outside their own culture. Since I was married and a mom and the women I was meeting were in a similar situation, it seemed natural that this would be our primary focus.
Over the years, a number of single women working cross-culturally have joined our group. From time to time someone asks why we don’t have some articles written especially for the singles. No one had yet submitted an article from that perspective.
So we have a treat this month. Michelle has written about her “single” journey. We are so happy to share her story.
My story is not that unusual, nor my life that hard. I know people have suffered more, waited longer, had it harder. I believe that I am just an average 28 year old. Your average single, cross-cultural worker serving God and wondering if He had anyone for me.
But, I knew that God had called me to this field. While I came into contact with many good Christian men in the groups, I knew that the one for me must be called to serve here.
It is said that in overseas work you will find more single women then single men. So at times I despaired. I felt willing to serve God single, and really enjoyed being single, but more and more I was feeling that I was part of a team . . . and the other part was not here yet.
Then it dawned on me. My father is God, and God is King of the Universe with all in His control. That makes me His daughter, a princess, royalty. And knowing Him and His love for me, my Father the King would – no – HAS me betrothed! I only need wait for the time that He, in His perfect timing will present to me, in proper fashion, the one whom He intends.
This dawned on me like a change in perspective. If I was a princess betrothed, I had NO RIGHT to flirt, or carry on like I was available or looking for someone. God would be kind enough to bring him to me. I didn’t need to hunt or even to want, since I was ALREADY betrothed, but to wait patiently continuing the work He had placed before me. Knowing that whoever He was to bring into my life would first start by working here along side me.
At the time of this “dawning,” prospective husbands where nonexistent. On staff we had many married couples and 4 other single, attractive, godly women . . . not counting me. I am not even that lovely to look at, being big-boned and as I say “completely woman” with nothing girly about me. The other single ladies here outshone me, by far, as for looks.
But one day, my co-worker and I went walking and found this man on his hands and knees fixing the cracks in the cement all by himself. This man started driving faithfully four hours every other week to do whatever work there was to do. He did not need reward or praise but worked all weekend by himself because he felt God had called him here. He paid no special attention to me, he was equally kind to everyone here without bias. He was well-liked by all the staff. The married couples praised him; the single ladies liked him. Yet, at the end of that year I got an e-mail from him. He was asking me to lunch. What a surprise!
Me? That was a year and four months ago. Soon now we are to be married and continue working here as a couple.
He told me, one day after we were “official,” one of the things that attracted him to me. He said that when he asked the other staff ladies what they planned to be doing in five to ten years, they had listed – to get married, to have a family, to settle down and other such goals. When he asked me, I had said that I hoped to be working here still, perhaps God will have me die and be buried here . . . ironic isn’t it?
So, set your mind on Him! And what He has before you . . . Seek ye first the Kingdom of God . . . .
Michelle works at a school for the deaf in Mexico. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing with us.
If there are other single women who would like to write for Peter’s Wife, we would be glad for the opportunity to share your thoughts with others. Also, there may be more ladies who were serving cross-culturally when you met your “other half.” Email your story to: Diane
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