Blessed Beyond Measure: Part 2- England

The Year 2020 will be known as the year of Covid-19. But in spite of all the bitterness and weirdness of this year, 2020 will be Mr. Fernandes and my special year forever... not because we got married this year, but because God showed us that He is almighty and great no matter what the situations are. A lot has changed this year- the way we work, the way we socialize (or we don't), the way we live. But one thing hasn't changed, the way God works in our lives... miraculously!!

A couple of days back we were sent a trailer of our wedding movie. And that made me reflect on the events of my life... of our life. The Lord has been gracious to us since the day we were born. In the form of parents, siblings, extended families; we have known what is it to love and be loved. But there is one another family that has been playing equally significant role in shaping us, in providing us with the necessary fuel to keep our light shining for the Lord. It is the family of His saints.

Mr. Fernandes and I have been blessed to have amassed a very large family in the Lord. Starting from our hometowns back in Vasco da Gama and Cooch Behar to our beloved Bangalore we have a very large family of the Lord's people. No matter how far we were from the families that we were born in, these families in the Lord have been taking care of us from time to time... be it spiritual needs, needs of companionship, and sometimes the need for a homely meal. And now as I am sitting in our living room, in a port city of England called Southampton, I can't thank the Lord enough for the lovely family He had prepared for us here at Gospel Hall, Freemantle.

Gospel Hall, Freemantle

Thousands of miles away from homeland, caught in the midst of pandemic and global lockdowns; one can feel rather homesick. But that wasn't the case with us. Trusting the Lord to take care of us has always been the best option rather than depending on our own capabilities. Because the truth is, that we ourselves do not know what's best for us. It is only the Lord who knows. In my previous blog post I had mentioned about the "the power of prayer". Well over the period of a month here, I have had the opportunity to know how much of prayer support we have had from here. Truth be told if it was just love, I am doubtful how much of the wedding would have happened!! Love is not enough... when it comes to building a family, the primary requisite is prayer. Time and again we have been hearing the phrase "we have been praying for you"... and that in a way is the best present to give to a newlywed (or even to a couple married for decades!)

Shirley Road

Living in the 21st century one might feel that God no longer comes down in a fiery bush to talk to us. But I feel... rather know it for sure He does talk!! It might not be in the form of a dramatic voice from the cloud, but it is through His word, His people... He is constantly talking to us. The choice is left to us- to listen or ignore His voice... or worse, like Balaam try to get our way with God.

Mr. Fernandes and I hold this firm faith, that whatever has happened in our lives; was all for His glory and for our learning and growth. We also know that whatever is happening and will happen is also according to His plan and for His glory. If it were just my capacity, I could have never even received the permit to come here. But it was His plan that I should join my husband in getting planted where the Lord wants us to bloom.