BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

On April 5, 2008, I boarded a plane bound for Singapore. I stayed in the cheapest hotel I could find, yet soon discovered there is nothing cheap in Singapore. Within a month, I had spent nearly $2,000.

On May 5, I flew into Bangkok, Thailand, with only $70 left in my pocket. I knew no one, and I arrived at night. There was no visible pillar of fire or cloud as in the days of Israel, yet I trusted the Lord was directing my path.

Provision in a Strange Land

Hungry and weary, I asked a taxi to take me to Sukhumvit Soi 4, where I was told foreigners often gathered. My taxi fare consumed a chunk of my money. After a slice of pizza that tasted far better than it should have (because of my hunger), I began searching for a hotel. Prices were too high.

Then, two strangers appeared. After talking with them, they invited me to stay at the Nasa Vegas Complex Luxury Hotel on Ramkhamhaeng Road. They even paid for my taxi and two nights at the hotel. Though they showed no interest in the Bible I was reading, I prayed that the Lord would guide their steps. To me, they were God’s instruments of provision.

A Place to Stay

After two nights, I returned to Sukhumvit to look for a more affordable place. At an internet café, I overheard a conversation between two Cameroonian men, one from China. They spoke of renting an apartment instead of staying in hotels. I approached them, and together we searched. Eventually, we arrived at Charoen Mansion, Soi Ladprao 96. The other man declined, but I felt peace about the place.

The landlady agreed to let me move in with only 1,000 baht (about $30), promising to wait a week for the balance. Again, God opened a door. By the seventh day, I received an unexpected Western Union transfer of $300 from a sibling. It was right on time, though the landlady had already put my belongings outside in embarrassment.

God’s Unseen Hand

Living in Bangkok required extending my tourist visa and daily provisions. Once again, the Lord made a way through unexpected support. During this time, a fellow Cameroonian lost money he had hidden in his ceiling. His trial reminded me how uncertain riches can be, but also how God trains us through such lessons.

When my own funds ran short, God still provided—often through sources I never expected, including a brother serving in Iraq who managed to send me money.

The Call to Cambodia

One night in Thailand, I dreamed of a brother pleading with me to come help in his ministry. It reminded me of Paul’s Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9). Soon after, when I arrived in Cambodia, I met a pastor who invited me to join him in the provinces. He even sent a vehicle to take me from my guesthouse.

Looking back, I know I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I have now been in Cambodia for nearly 12 years, traveling through provinces, preaching the gospel in this Buddhist land. It has not been easy, but Christ has strengthened me every step of the way.

Lessons Along the Way

When I later visited the Philippines, I saw how much more Christianity had spread there compared to other Asian nations like Singapore, Thailand, Laos, and Japan. In Cambodia, 95% are Buddhist, 3.2% Muslim, and only about 1% Christian. The Great Commission still stands:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…” (Matthew 28:19)

I do not preach prosperity. I cannot tell you how the servant of God will be paid. But I can testify that the One who calls will provide. He has proven His promises in my journey.

The Spirit’s Leading

At critical moments, God sent people to show me kindness. I don’t need to print their names; they are written in the mind of God. What matters is being led by His Spirit. His ways are past finding out, but they are always for our good.

Following God’s will may cost you friends, but He will give you true ones. Hardship may come, but it is His love. His goal is not to shower us with material riches but to transform our hearts into Christ’s image.

I was once hoping to become a mechanical engineer. But God’s plan was not for me to build machines—it was to build His kingdom.

So I say to you: Be led by the Spirit. Flourish not in the flesh, but in the Lord.

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)