His Hands are Seen by Many

Im going to share  my experience on how Jesus Christ helped me and saved me.

When I was first year high school (13 years old) I joined the school's journalist writers club. There I was trained to write news and do copyreading. At the middle of the year we were sent for a contest; the first level (Division LEvel) with 40 contestants. Unfortunately,  I did not make it in the top 10. I was not discouraged. I prayed to God. His will be done.

The year after that, my family was driven out from Seventh Day Adventist GC because of the questions my parents asked to the pastors. By then we started to have home church. 3/4 of our brethren from the GC church joined our first worship up to the present.

When I was in 2nd year high school, I started my training again but that time I was assigned to do the Sportswriting. I undergone trainings. But I made sure I dont have trainings on Sabbath Day and the couch gave special exemptions for me. I prayed to God fervently that He will let me win in the Division level so that I can join the next level which is the Regional level. But God did not permit it. I was not discouraged. I just prayed and thank HIm. Same thing happened the next year (3rd year high school).

During my last year in high school (4th year) I joined again the writing contest. As usual...training..reading..writing..and all. I prayed that God will let me make it. In the division level I ranked 2nd (the first 7th will qualify for the regional level). So I joined the regional level with 88 contestants I prayed to God that He will let me win so that I can join the biggest event which is the National Level (whole philippines). I ranked 6th (first 7th will qualify the next level).

February 2004 we sailed to Manila via Cagayan de Oro city because the Regional Office of the Dept of Education is in Cagayan de Oro and they will sponsor us with all the expenses for the fare back and forth. I prayed so hard that I would be able to keep God's commandments away from home. I said to myself "I need to be courageous to say NO if they will tell me to do things that is against God's principles." I kept reading my Bible and shared the truth about the sabbath to other students that were with me. I explained to them why I dont eat the food they eat, why I keep the sabbath saturday than sunday. And they just nod and do their rosary too.

We arrived in Manila friday. The Regional Director (Dept of Educ) announced that enhancement seminar will be held tommorow (Saturday) no one is exempted! I talked to my couch heartily, "Ma'am, before I came here, you promised I will be exempted from Sabbath trainings." She replied, "can't you hear that? He is our head. We must follow or you go home. Dont worry I wont tell your mom that you joined the training. Dont worry you will do this once only, your God will surely understand." I got teary eyes. I asked her "What can I do to fight my faith?" she said, "If you have the courage to talk to one of the Division Supervisors for a request to be exempted. But I tell you shes very strict, you'll be embarassed." That time all I have in my heart was the courage to talk to the Supervisor. I went inside the room and prayed, "Lord I dont want to violate  your Holy day. Please touch the heart of the Supervisor"

I took a deep breath, I went to the supervisor and said, "Good Afternoon Maam, I'm one of your students. I would like to ask for an exemption for tommorow's training since It is Saturday. It is the sabbath of the Lord according to the Bible. If Im going to violate it, He will surely wont answer my prayer. He will not help me. All our efforts will be in vain." Unexpectedly, she replied, "Yes, miss Novi, I respect your faith with your God. You are exempted tommorow. Please pray to your God that He will help you win." Happily, I ran to my room and prayed to God and thanked Him. That Saturday, I worshipped God and studied His words.

The night came before the contest. The head of all the teachers from diffrent schools called everyone to gather for a special worship, asking for God's help.  There were nearly 40 students and teachers in the room that night. The principal teacher stood up and said "for the message we will ask Ms Novi to give us an encouragement". I really wondered why she pointed me (maybe because I was the only one bringing a Bible). I did not refused coz it was a privilege. It was a chance for me to share GOd's truth to these brilliant minds (although worldly wisdom). I quoted the verse my mom gave to me before I left home. In Deuteronomy 28:13...And the Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: I stressed to them that we have to keep His commandments in order for Him to make us the head. God's promises are conditional. We have to keep His commandments. I enumerated the 10 commandments. I finished the message uplifting God's Laws. I never heard a word from them.

Hours later after the worship, I was reviewing the words I've said. I prayed to God, "Lord, please help me. Show to them that you are with me and that my words are from you. Show to them that you love those who keep your commandments. But if it isnt your will I would accept that just like I have accepted the failures I have been through along the way before I get here."

The contest came, in my thoughts were the promises of God. I kept on praying for His help. The gymnasium was so crowded with different contestants from different regions of the country. I cant count them one by one. We were given 1 hour to watch a  game and then 1 hour to write the news about it in  separated rooms. With an empty stomach, I finished my output 5 minutes before the due.

Upon arriving at the building, where the students are accomodated, the Regional Director announced that for the first time they will asked for help from the Division OFfice. The Regional office (for the first time) will no longer shoulder the fare going back to our place (Misamis Occidental) due to financial shortage. So the tickets were rebooked and we have new tickets. Instead of via Cagayan, we have to sail via Ozamis this time since it is one of the cities of Misamis Occidental (much nearer).

We were in the sea port while the awarding was going on in the huge auditorium in Sta Cruz, Laguna, Philippines. A text message came to one of the teachers (I dont have a cellphone). It states, "Champion, Sportswriting, Novilene. Congrats!"  After hearing that, the first thing came to my mind was the Deut 28:13. I thank God so much. I heard them saying, "She won because she kept the commandments of God. Have you observed that she was always reading her Bible, indeed, God helped her." I told them, "It wasnt me, To Him be the glory." God did not want me to be ashamed of the words I shared to them the night before the contest. I remember the contest between Prophet Elijah in Mount Carmel. At the end, God showed to the people the truth.

Finally, we got onboard. Some of the students and teachers were no longer with us almost half of them are boarding at the other ship, the Superferry 14 (the first ship in which our ticket was booked). Around 5am, I heard the news from the national television that Superferry 14 is in tragedy. It has bombed in it at the tourist accomodation (my ticket was tourist accomodation). It burned the entire ship. Some of the news about the Superferry 14 of February 2004 tragedy is found in  http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl100123.htm

Everything in our life is God's will. I learned not to complain during failures. During trying hours I just prayed to Him for strength. If the ticket was not rebooked by the Regional director, I should be one of the victims in that tragedy. Some of the students were missing until now. My life is in God's hand. I know He has a plan for me.

He made me the head and not the tail in a national writing contest and He saved my life from the tragedy because I keep His commandments.

Later, I heard that competition is not good. Especially in the classroom because it might cultivate a pride in the heart and that invites sin. I always bear in my mind and heart that the success of that event was from God and not from my own strength. Without Him Im nothing. And thats what I always pray to God...to be humble.

The news spread throughout the province. I just replied, "It was Jesus Christ who helped me, not me alone!"

Sister in Christ,
Novi

p.s
Thank you so much for the website www.remnantofgod.org. It helped me a lot in spreading the truth to my classmates and friends. the quotes I needed were there.