I’m Janet, a nurse for 7 years until I devoted my whole life serving God.
My dream was to visit my family in Italy. There was a time when I haven’ t seen them for 8 years. While my husband and I was applying for Visa last year, my mom called telling me that she has endometrial cancer. At that moment, I froze in shock. It was heart-crushing for me to hear that news. It was the time I despised cancer because 4 months prior to that, my father-in-law died due to cancer. Being once a nurse assigned in Oncology unit,I know the agony that cancer patients experience. The thought that my mom experiences it pains me because I have the ability to help her, but distance was hindering me to do so. Also, my Visa application is still on process.
There were questions in my head which fed my doubt and my faith was being stretched. I prayed, “Lord, I’d still serve You no matter what. But consider me, God. I don’t ask this in return for my sacrifices; it’s nothing compared to Your goodness. But here is Your servant, pleading. Please send healing so that I could still enjoy my mom’s company.”
Along the process, delays were everywhere. ExCEL service became the outlet for my frustrations. And God is good! During one ExCEL service, I was informed that my Visa was approved! I then asked to be on leave for a month for my mom. My dream was to reunite with my family but it’s okay if I set aside it for a while and spend the month with her. While thinking about the bills, little did I know that the Lord already provided everything! He touched my mom’s Churchmates and employer who gladly shouldered all expenses. During the operation, my mom was nervous but because of the technology, the doctors just used a laser and laparoscopy for the procedure. The Lord also allowed me to finally be reunited with my family. Plus, my husband and I were blessed to visit 12 European cities. But He is not done yet. My mom didn’t have to undergo chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free!
Janet’s mother after the operation.
Janet with her family in Italy.
Janet with her husband, Joshua Pacleb during their Europe tour.
As a nurse, I know what’s supposed to happen, but the Lord’s thoughts are higher than ours! I held on to His Word in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to [carry out his purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.”
If there’s someone who was the first to GO BEYOND, it’s the Lord! He’s beyond our understanding. Everytime I think about His goodness, I keep on asking myself, “What’s holding me back to go beyond? Is there any reason for not worshiping Him?”
To God be all the glory and praise!
