The Recruiter's Dilemma

We are taking a slight detour this time, but not really.  The focus is going to be on my wife and best friend, Lisa.  I am thankful for her.  She is a woman of faith, conviction, and character.  And, I dearly love her.  This is one of her faith adventures. 

The year is 1984.  It had been 15 months since my path first crossed with Lisa’s in June 1983 – with the infamous “Phone Call”.  If you recall from a previous post, the phone call came from Lisa when she was a recruiter who screened and sent English teachers to China. I was one of them.  There are still three more years before our paths truly merge.  Even though we are not married at the time of this story, “the recruiter’s dilemma” has become an important marker in our journey as a couple. 

It encourages us each time we tell it. We hope it encourages you, as well.

The Recruiter’s Dilemma

The recruiter was in agony. 

She had been for weeks.    It was a quandary - a dilemma.  As she prayed, she searched her soul.  “God what do you want me to do?”  As a recruiter, she had a spot to fill.  As part of her job, she did this all the time.  But, this time – was different.  The decision didn’t affect others. The airline ticket to China was not for someone else.  This time - it was for her. 

The decision couldn’t be put off any longer.  It was time to decide.  Was it “go, or no go?”

Physically, there was no way Lisa could endure the rigors of travelling throughout China for six weeks.  Food made her sick.  Severe headaches, all-over-pain, and flu-like fatigue were ever present. Her struggle had been steadily getting more and more pronounced for the past twelve years – since she was fifteen.  As a “Type-A personality”, she pushed through her symptoms every day - treating them as an annoyance. But, energy and pain where increasingly becoming problems she couldn’t ignore. 

Doctors had no answers.  With marginal amounts of stamina, she limped through eight hours at work.  She survived the debilitating fatigue by taking intermittent naps.  Whatever the Apostle Paul meant when he referred to his “thorn in the flesh” – this was Lisa’s.  Her health was a governor. It controlled the throttle for her energy.  And, it was severely affecting what she could do.

How could she possibly consider a trip to China?  Even for six weeks?

But, Lisa had oodles of drive and conviction.  She believed in her heart that God speaks and wants to be heard.  She believed that God wants to reveal himself, and make known his purposes to his children. She also believed that if God called her to do something, he would provide.  

But, oh boy, her beliefs were really being challenged this time!  Her faith was getting stretched.

At her core, the dilemma was this. “If God really speaks, has He truly called her to go?”  The consequences would be enormous if she were hearing wrongly, or being presumptuous. But the “age old question” she wrestled with was this, “How do I really know that I have heard from God?” 

The answer came one morning during the quiet of her daily prayer time.  She was reminded of the story in the book of Joshua.  "As soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the flowing water stood still."  Joshua 3:15. The message burned strongly in her spirit.   She sensed God saying, “Lisa, my provision will come for you by faith – when you leave the United States, and your feet step in China”.

Like the priests at the Jordan River, was she willing to obey?  Was she willing to trust the voice she believed was God, and step into the river?  Would God ask such a thing?  Would God make his voice known?

There were tons of questions and doubts.  Yikes, this really is a dilemma! 

Yet, as she prayed and confirmed it with others, Lisa felt that God was telling her to go.  So, she trusted him to protect her.  She committed. She bought the ticket, and got ready to go. 

The day to depart arrived. 

Bags were packed. The last of “her special food” was eaten.  She boarded the official airline of the People’s Republic of China: CAAC.  As she buckled in, the engines spooled up for the 16 hour flight to Beijing.  She was 100% committed.  There was no turning back.  She anxiously waited. 

A few hours into the flight, the flight attendants began to roll the food service carts down the aisle.  Entrees were delivered.  Lisa prayed, and with her first bite – stepped into her Jordan River. 

Hours later, she felt fine.  Then, the next meal was served, and she ate again.  She experienced none of her normal food-sensitivity-symptoms. No debilitating pains. No migraine headaches. No achy flu-like fatigue.

During the entire six weeks Lisa ate what was put in front of her – no questions asked.  No special needs.  She travelled a rigorous itinerary. She crisscrossed the Chinese mainland - visiting teaching teams in eight cities.  She saw first-hand where she was placing the teachers she recruited.  She also sat in on meetings with university officials, and dignitaries. 

At every stop, she attended a formal banquet!

During the entire trip she did not have any of her usual symptoms.  God provided for her.  When she visited the university where I taught, I watched her eat without restraint. 

Lisa rejoiced! I was amazed! She was healed.

Once she returned to the United States, “the waters of the Jordan returned”.  Lisa wondered if God had healed her permanently of this illness.  She continued eating as she had.  She did not eat a restricted diet – and she “got sicker than a dog”.

There is no doubt that God provided for Lisa in a miraculous way.  She was healed.  And, it was for six weeks!     

Over and over again, God has used this event to remind us that he was at work then – just as he is now. This is Lisa’s testimony: “God is the God of the miraculous. He speaks and can be heard. And, when God calls, He provides.” As God has called her to minister in different ways and locations, we have seen him repeatedly enable, heal, and provide – even in the midst of physical pain and suffering.

While we do not understand Lisa’s on-going health issues, we know that God can be trusted.  We know that God has been at work in our journey so far.  Telling this story has been an encouraging reminder to both of us.  It helps us to remember that just as we trusted God to guide in the past, he can be trusted to guide us in the future. 

This builds up our faith.  We hope it builds yours as well.

Next: The next four posts tell our love story.  Unfortunately, Lisa was more enamored with someone’s motorcycle than its charming owner – for quite a while.  But, hey, it allowed “for a foot in the door” and still had a happy ending.  She ended up with a diamond ring on her finger - eventually.  And, I got another “Carr”. 

The Next Four Posts:

God Uses a Motorcycle

God Uses a Parked Motorcycle

Why are You Resistant to Counseling?

The Search for Summit

Photo Credits:

Top & Bottom: Carr Collection

Middle: Michel Gilliand