How Can I Help You?

Like so many of our clients, she sat holding a packet stuffed with documents, the paper key to unlock the door of reunification with her overseas family. She patiently answered my questions. We chatted about raising kids as I helped her sort through passports and birth certificates. I secretly admired her haircut.

I learned that she was not only a mom, like me, but also a follower of Christ. Her joy in Him was palpable. It was a privilege to help her.
We laughed at the difficulty of English spelling as we filled in the blanks on her form. I learned that she was not only a mom, like me, but also a follower of Christ. Her joy in Him was palpable. It was a privilege to help her.

As our meeting drew to a close, I asked if I could pray for her family. She gratefully accepted, and we brought her concerns and hopes to the Lord together. Her eyes fell on my family’s photo, and she asked about my children. Then she pleaded with the Lord to continue His work in their lives. She smiled, expressing a quiet confidence in Him.

…that God Himself would’ve planned all along to unite the prayers of a “stranger” with mine for His glory
As I escorted her to the lobby, I was reminded of Revelation 5:8, and the “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” I marveled that this woman, unknown to me an hour prior, offered prayers to mingle with my own – and that God Himself would’ve planned all along to unite the prayers of a “stranger” with mine for His glory. When I went back to read this Scripture, I noticed in verse 9 that it mentions that a new song will be sung by people “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” What a connection – the prayers of the saints from every corner of the world! On this particular day, I experienced the beauty of this combination.

I had to ask the question: who helped who today? For me, the answer was clear.

Tracy Nelson is the Immigration Assistant at Arrive Ministries.

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