My husband and I worked in an area where we had a good support system of other Adventists. I had a good job as food service director in the cafeteria of the local Adventist college. Then we were asked to go to a new district which needed leadership, far from our group of friends and colleagues. It was a very hard time for me.
After much prayer, we accepted this new assignment. It was very difficult for me to be in a new place where I didn't know anyone, and particularly difficult because I had no employment. There was no possibility for me to obtain a job in this small village.
I knew I needed to work, so I got the idea of beginning a Child Care. There was none in this small town. It would also give me an avenue to meet more adults by providing care for their children and get adult Bible studies going. I was able to secure a place to have the Child Care and the first day I registered ten children.
Then trouble started. First of all there were caterpillars. They came from everywhere and secreted a poison on the children's skin, which made them break out in a rash. I simply couldn't keep those caterpillars off the children. Because of the invasion, four of the children dropped out.
The trouble continued. Mosquitoes swarmed us without mercy. The children were being eaten alive. The parents said they were not going to send the children back anymore if the problem did not stop. They didn't like the children having bites all over them.
I prayed. "Lord, this is your work. You know I want to witness here with these children. If the mosquitoes keep coming, the children will go away. Lord, if it is your will that I continue this Child Care Program, please get rid of these mosquitoes."
The next day I went back to the place where we held the Child Care and stuck out my arm to see how many mosquitoes swarmed around it. I waited a minute—no mosquitoes. I stuck it out for five minutes, ten minutes, 20 minutes, still no mosquitoes. It was an answer to prayer!
A few children came. At nap time, they asked me why I didn't cover them with the mosquito netting. "The mosquitoes are gone," I replied.
"Why?" they persisted.
I shared with them how I prayed to my Jesus and He had taken the mosquitoes away. "They will not be back to ever bother us again."
That evening, the children went home and told their parents. One mother could not believe it. She brought her child the next day and asked me about it, and I told her the story. Still not convinced, she stayed the whole day to see if it was really true. She spread the word throughout the village—no more mosquitoes!
The next week 20 children came to the Child Care. In a couple of weeks our numbers grew to 40, then to 60. Many cried when they found out I had no more room to include them in the program.
I am able to witness and minister to these people because Jesus knew the importance of little children and that a ministry was needed especially for them and their parents.
The Lord does care about pastoral wives, and He is especially watching to pour out blessings when they claim His promises to do His work.
Praise God for the miracle of the mosquitoes.