Prepared

By Linda Hokit
A mentor once told me that God has prepared us for what He wants us to do today and will prepare us for what he wants us to do tomorrow. I have certainly found this to be true. With that I hope to share in the articles to come ways I have personally seen God work in obvious and undeniable ways. Back in the day, we called them Missionary Stories.


When I was an appointed missionary, children would bring me their autograph books and asked for my name and a verse. I would often write, Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” There was actually a chorus at the time and sometimes we would sing the words together.  Another good passage along the same lines is found in Isaiah 41:9b-10 an says, “… ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  With that, the story I want to share is about how God prepared me in childhood for some of the things I ended up doing later. 


One day, I was walking home from school when I noticed smoke rising from my house. I ran right past a lady who also broke out into a run. She caught me just before I ran inside my house to look for my mother. I was convinced she was there since she always met my brother and I with an afterschool snack each day. My Good Samaritan had her hands full keeping me safe, because I was dedicated to getting in the house! Once she had won out, she said, “We stand here. We stand here.” It wasn’t long until the fire fighters arrived and then my mom.  My mother had gone on a quick errand but had forgotten to take a pot off the stove before heading out. 

I don’t know the name of the lady who jumped in to take care of me, but to my family she was an angel. I don’t why she was on the corner that particular day because I had never seen her before. But her timing was perfect. She was a person of Mexican descent and was still learning English, but that day she said and did everything she needed to do to keep me safe. I’m impressed by the fact she never hesitated to help. Part of me wonders if I will meet her in heaven someday. 

As it worked out, I have also been the person to stand with others affected by disasters. I have served for more than 20 years with both the American Red Cross and with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Both agencies are part of the recovery effects happening now in the south. There are currently on this one response more than 10,000 Southern Baptist Volunteers alone serving and many more will come. In fact, we will likely be helping out for the next year. I say this because, like Christ we will prove our love for God and others with our actions just like my Good Samaritan. 

As it happens, I have likewise served as a Conversational English Instructor. I have been able to teach again for more than 20 years. I was able to write and present a basic English lesson on how to prepare for disasters so new immigrants could prepare for common disasters. Likewise, I have been able to provide Preparedness Presentation to children about how to handle a disaster in the safest ways.  When I do, I start by saying, “When I was a little girl the fire fighters came to my house, but the best part of the day was when the stranger saved my life.”

May we all be available to serve as God calls us, empowered by the knowledge that God has prepared us for the task He wants us to do. 

Note: Serving in as an Alaskan Volunteer with New England Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team helping those affected by floods in Massachusetts in the late 90’s