3 Years ago when I got onto the internet, I really, really wanted to attend the TLC retreat. But financially (and in other things) it was totally impossible. So I gave up on the idea and never really thought about or discussed it again. It was never a real option anyway - way too expensive.

Our family has a dream to one day go to Disneyland. We have been starting to save - but not very serious yet - it will be a huge amount of money. Well, one day we were driving, and suddenly, out of the blue, my husband (Louis) said:  You know what? I think you should go to America on your own first, and then later the rest of the family will go to Disneyland. Well, I almost fell out of the car! It was never discussed, I never even said that I wished I could go or anything. It took me a long time to believe that he was actually serious and that it was a real possibility. I then started praying and asking God to confirm it to me that it WAS in His will that I go. I surely didn’t want to go if it wasn’t in God’s will, because I knew that it wouldn’t be blessed then.

Cheryn said something that meant a lot to me… that I am under my husband’s covering and if was ok with him (he offered it), then I’m under his protection and covering. That helped, but I still wanted conformation from the Lord and slowly but surely I started getting verses to confirm this to me. I was still very scared that I was seeing what I wanted to see, because I really wanted to go. So I kept on asking for confirmation from the Lord, about the trip.

My original plan was then to go to Robin for a week, and then to the retreat. A big thing for me was the fact that I would meet my e-mail friends at the retreat (the biggest reason for my going). Especially the fact that Camilla would be at the retreat, made it wonderful for me.

Well, I started looking at prices, and let’s say that the plane ticket was R7000. This would be to Amsterdam, Washington, San Francisco and back home (via Amsterdam). This was the cheapest option and the cheapest airlines. I asked the travel agent what the possibility was to stop over in London, not Amsterdam, because I really, really wanted to meet Julie Holdon in the UK. No matter how I tried, it was not possible. It would have cost R5000 more to do it that way! I was extremely disappointed, but it was not possible. I even considered taking a day flight to the UK, but it was just too expensive.

Then another bad thing happened. Camilla couldn’t go to the retreat anymore. Oh no! What now? I really, really wanted to meet her. Camilla and a group of her bible study friends have been praying for quite a while then already that God would one day make a way for us to meet face to face. I never actually prayed for that - I never thought it was even a remote possibility

Well, I then enquired with the travel agent what it would cost me to make an extra stopover in Atlanta. Shock upon shock…. I was then told that the price of the tickets had suddenly gone up and that the original price would now be R2000 more! (that was EXCLUDING the Atlanta trip). This was only Washington, SF and back to SA (via Amsterdam)! Well, there was no ways I could afford that. I was so sad and disappointed! I then said to the Lord: Well, Lord, if this is your way of telling me that I shouldn’t’ go… well, ok? I accept. It was hard.. I really, really wanted to go, but I also was very sure that I didn’t want to go if it wasn’t in God’s will. So I gave it up in my heart (still very dissapointed, though).

Well, 10 days later the travel agent phoned, telling me the wonderful news. The price of the tickets had suddenly dropped, and for LESS than the original price, I could now make 4 stops in the States! For LESS than the original price! I was SO excited!! Now I could go to Washington (Robin), Atlanta (Camilla), Colorado (Carol), and SF (the retreat), for less than the original price! Isn’t God amazing!   I believe today that it was a test from God’s side… I did say that I only wanted to go if it was His will… when it looked like it wasn’t His will, would I accept it, or would I start scrambling for extra money and making my own plans to still try and go?

Still, it isn’t the end of God’s provision. The airport taxes for the 2 original stops, would have been +- R500. Suddenly, including the extra 2 stops, my airport tax was only R350!

Also, when I started planning the trip, I was so excited that I didn’t really think much about the retreat costs. I think I had forgotten about the terrible exchange rate between rands and dollars, so when I found what the retreat costs would be, I realized that I didn’t have that kind of money (+-R2500)! Um… what now? (I had already told everyone I was coming).

Well.. yeah, you guessed it.. God provided again.

It was suggested that I apply to TLC for a scholarship or grant or something to be able to attend the retreat. After a while I was told that they have granted the scholarship and I could go to the retreat.  It was only later that I discovered that TLC themselves didn't actually give me the scholarship, but someone had written to my trich internet friends (totally without my knowledge) and they have all put money together which enabled me to go!  When I discovered this, I just wanted to cry.  It was just unthinkable that people would care so much for me, that they would do that for me.   Up to today I have no idea of who was responsible for this, who organised it, or even how they did it without me knowing about it.  If you were involved in this in any way, I want to thank you from my heart. 

Then, another wonderful thing happened, which made me cry. I was told that my friends had donated more money towards my costs, and there was spending money waiting for me when I arrived in the States. I don’t know who were involved in that… but if it was you, please accept my deepest thanks… I cannot tell you how much it touched me that people did that for ME! I can just thank you all for your big, generous hearts! THANKS!

Oh, I almost forgot. Then God made it possible for Julie and Bob (her hubby) to fly over to Amsterdam, and I got to spend a few hours on the airport with them! What a wonderful surprise and priviledge! God surely made a way!

One thing is for sure, God was surely the one who made the whole trip to the States possible for me. To Him belongs all the glory, honour and thanks of my heart.

 What was wonderful to me, is how God gave me the priviledge to be used by Him, when I was on the trip. I knew He blessed me by going and I was very thankful (obviously) but I also got the messages from Him that He was sending me to be a light to the nations… to proclaim His word and His love and His healing to the nations.

I started having a real need in my heart to be used by Him while I was there. I prayed a lot for that. I knew what a blessing it would be to me too… just to have the priviledge to be used by Him. But I also knew He had a job for me there. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I just knew it. By then I knew that I would have the chance to speak at the retreat, about my walk with Jesus on my way to trich recovery. But I knew the Lord had more for me. I started asking God to prepare people’s heart beforehand, so that they would be open to the gospel, so that I would be able to let Jesus’ light shine… I asked them to pray that God will open doors for me and make me a vessle which could be used by Him, for His glory!