Episode Transcript
It is all too often said that there are no miracles performed these days. Well, I'd like to challenge this idea with my story of the miraculous Visa grant. Welcome to miracles in the 21st century. I'm Gem Castor, and this is my story. Friends, I'm a missionary, and I have been a missionary for the past 14 years and 10 months. Almost 15 years, just 15. Relying on the Lord for everything. When people ask me, jem, so where is your mission field? When you said that you're a missionary, I tell them, everywhere is my mission field. I just follow God. And I said, so how does this work? And I tell him, if I'm in the Philippines or if I'm in Asia, the Lord brings me to one country after another almost every month. And when I'm in the US The Lord brings me to one state after another almost every week. And actually, right now, I'm here in Australia, and this is my fourth week. This is my fourth place. And then they said, so, Jem, how does that work? Who is your sponsor? Because that is quite an expensive lifestyle. And I said, God is my sponsor. I have a rich father. And friends, you have a rich father, because the God that we serve, he owns all the cattle in the thousand fields and even the hills itself. So a friend of mine asked me, jem, until when do you plan to be a missionary? Friends, I was not prepared to answer that question in the first year that I was following God, because I was thinking that this was just a series of mission trips. Friends, I had a business before I was a businessman since I was young. I guess at the age of five years old, I was already a businessman. I did not plan to be a missionary because I planned to be rich. And so there goes my experience, There goes my story. And so that particular sister, she's a missionary. And she asked me, until when do you plan to be a missionary, Jem? And I said, if the Lord allows it. Looking back on what I've experienced, I didn't want to leave this blessed experience. If the Lord allows it, I want to be a missionary until the day I die. And she said, that's quite a very sincere desire. And she told me, you know what? My suggestion, since you are not a pastor, you're not a theology graduate, apply for a Bible training program or a Bible working training program, an evangelism training program. And you said, apply an Amazing Facts. And friends, Amazing Facts is a Bible training program. It's there in the U.S. and that year, they opened a branch in the Philippines. And you know where it's in My front yard. It's across the house. It's the church where I'm attending. And so this friend of mine said, are you planning to go to the Amazing Facts in the Philippines? And I said, of course. No, no, no, no, no. I'm encouraging you to go to the US And I said, oh, sister, that's quite impossible. I said, why? Because I don't have a visa. And she said, then apply for one. That it's easy for you to say. You're not a Filipino. For us Filipinos, it's quite impossible. Said, jem, you've been living by faith for the past year. Why not go by faith then? And I said, okay, let's go by faith. Friends, I was just scared because I'm thinking, oh, Lord, I. By the way, friends, you know why I'm scared? Because a year before that, a friend of mine invited me to speak to New Zealand, and I applied for the visa. I got rejected. And thinking that was New Zealand and this is us. US Is like the ultimate visa for us. That's the hardest visa to get. What chance do I have? And so, friends, I said to the Lord, if you want me to go, then you have to provide for the visa fee interview, which is US$160. And, friends, during the time I closed my business, already I was following the Lord's leading. And I do not have a salary. I don't have a stipend. And you might be wondering why I don't have a stipend. I was encouraged by the story of George Mueller. He lived in a time where almost nobody believed that there is a God who hears and answers prayer, who he proved to people. So he proved to people that the God that we serve as alive. So whenever he needed something, he did not tell people about his need. He'll only bend his knees, lift his burdens to the Lord, and the Lord answers every need that he has. And so, friends, that encouraged me. Because when George Mueller passed away, you know how much answers to prayer that God has given him? It amounted to more than US$7,250,000. And then it hit me. I'm thinking, oh, man, I'm missing out. I've been focusing so much on what I can do in my life, making my own ways, giving my own solution to my own problems. And this man relied fully on God. And this is his story. I'm thinking, I need to experience that. So, friends, when the Lord called me to be a missionary, I have one deal with him. If you want me to go, then I. I will not Tell people about my need. I will decide not to receive any salary, no stipend, and I'll see if that still works. Friends, 14 years and 10 months later, it still worked. Because the God that we serve is faithful. And when you learn to lean on him, you will see that he's not just faithful, but he's consistently faithful. So going back to that visa application, the moment I received that call, so I said to God, you have to provide the amount of money because I don't have anything. And friends, God provided not just the $160, but he provided more than $200. I should be happy, I should be rejoicing, but I was still in doubt. I even told God, you will lose this money. The way I got rejected in New Zealand application, I will be rejected here. Friends, sometimes we're trying to tell God what to do. We're trying to limit him. And that was me. And it's sad because you know what, friends, I profess to people that I have been living by faith. But faith is needed during the time. And faith is one thing that I don't have. But God is so good. God is not limited by our limitations. So friends, I went forward, I paid the amount, and the next thing happened, I could not sleep. Every time I go to bed, I have this nightmare and it's about visa fee, that visa fee, but visa interview. And I always get rejected in my dreams. And I'm thinking, oh Lord, what is happening? And friends, I don't usually have that problem because I'm this kind of guy that every time I go to bed, the moment my head hit the pillow, I'm out. And even. And this is one thing I love about this condition as well. Because when I travel, and this is one thing as well, I'm so thankful that God did not make me tall. He created me travel size. I'm only 5 foot 3 or 5 foot 4. And whenever we ride on the airplane, it's always first class accommodation for me. You know why? Because there's a lot of legroom. And so friends, when I was there on that plane before the fasten seat belt sign is off, I'm already out. There was even one time, or there was even one time, I was riding the train back in the Philippines and you know, the train's back home is quite packed. It's just like chest to back and back to chest. And friend of mine was traveling with me and after we got off that train, it's like a 45 minute travel. He told me, brother, I'm So annoyed at you. And I said, why? Because you were sleeping all throughout the ride. And I said, really? Yeah, yeah, you were sleeping standing up. Friends, that's one thing that I realized, that I have the gift of public sleeping. And so when I applied for the visa, that gift was of no use. I could not sleep. And in the middle of the night, I think three, not just three nights, I think five or six or seventh night, I could not take it anymore. And so I knelt down. I remember, friends, that I forgot something. You know what I forgot? Forgot to pray. This is quite a shame, because I'm a missionary called to lead people to pray. And I am here forgetting the most important thing. And when I remembered that I needed to pray, I prayed this prayer. Lord, help me, I don't know what to do. Friends, this is the best prayer that we can pray, because most of the time, we know what to do. And so the Lord reminded me, jem, just look back on this past year that I was leading you. Just open your passport, friends. I opened my passport. So true. God has been providing me, providing for me for these trips more than 20 times that the Lord has been leading and guiding my life and providing for it and said, lord, I'm sorry I give this to youo. I surrendered this the moment I said that prayer. I had so much peace. Fast forward now. It was time now to apply for the visa. And while I was there lining up before our batch got called in to the office, to the US Embassy main hall, I could not. I could not breathe. My heart was almost pumping out of my chest. I'm thinking, what is happening, friends? I did not know that I was having a panic attack. And I was thinking, oh, Lord, I should not be in this condition. Can you imagine, friends, you're being asked, and then you are too scared. And then I'm thinking, oh, Lord, I will just pass out and die here. And friends, I said, lord, I needed something. Please give me peace, the peace that yout have given me. During that night that I was praying, and Lord asked me, I asked the Lord, lord, please teach me what to do. The Lord put this in my heart. Go to the bathroom. I went to the bathroom and I closed the cubicle. And I was so desperate, I was on my knees, kneeling down on the floor and asking, lord, please take a hold of me. Take over, friends. God gave me peace. There's this beautiful verse that says, seek me and you will find me when you search for me with all of your heart. Friends, praise God for desperate moments. The moment I composed myself I went up and what it was my time for the interview. Khunsol asked me the question. So Jem, first question, friends, how much is your monthly income? And I said, oh Lord, I'm dead. I said to him, I'm sorry sir, but I don't receive any monthly income. And said, why is that? Because I'm a missionary volunteer, sir, so I don't get paid for my work. And how do you live? I live by faith, sir. Tell me, how do you really live? Because I live by faith too. And I said, how do you buy your food? How do you buy your clothes? And I told him, sir, the Lord provides. He opened my passport and he said, if you are not paid for your work, how come you travel so much? And I said, sir, the Lord provides the air ticket from the people who invites me. And then he tells me, then how about hotel? How are you able to survive? And I said, sir, the people who invites me ask me to stay in their house. And then they feed me, which is true. And then he was getting more and more frustrated. And then he asked me a difficult question. He said, how about emergencies? Do you encounter emergencies? And I said, yes sir, emergencies are unavoidable. Then how are you able to pay for emergencies? And I said, sir, God is faithful that God provides the right amount of money for the right amount of emergencies. And then he said, so you receive money for emergencies? I said, yes sir, God is faithful. And he yelled at me, said, then you just lied to me. I said, how come, sir? Because a while ago you're telling us, you're telling me that you don't receive any amount of money for your work. And now you're telling me that you receive money for emergencies. You just lied to me. Friends, imagine. Remember my panic attack condition before? And I only was able to survive because I know for a fact that God was with me. And God gave the answer before he even finished the question. And the answer came out, sir, a while ago, you're asking for a regular monthly income. But emergencies, sir, are not regular. Friends, isn't that quite a smart answer? But I'm not that smart. True story. And the moment those words came out of my mouth, there is this huge, like, awe. And I was just like blown away because I know for a fact I could not come up with that answer. And friends, I could still see the confusion in his face. So I told him, sir, from the very beginning, I told you that I don't have savings, I don't have a bank account, I don't have salary. And then he said, then how should I fill in this question? Monthly income. And I told him, honestly speaking, sir, I don't know. And he just typed in monthly income. Not applicable. Friends, a few more questions he asked. At the end, he told me, congratulations, your application has been approved. Friends, impossible just happened. A miracle just happened. Not because of my own doing, it's even because I don't have anything. And the only thing that I could think about is God made it happen. And friends, this is the thing that I'd like to share with you. If you have a mountain in front of you, just remember to look up. Because you have a God who's bigger than a mountain. You have a God who's stronger than the storm. Taste and see that the Lord is good, friends. Try him and you'll see that he'll never fail you. Because when you ally with him, you ally with the one who knows no failure. I hope and I pray that this story will give you a chance to somehow try him, test him, and see that you will never regret it. For he can't wait to show you who he is. He is your living God. It's a powerful God. Give him a chance. God bless you.
