Hi there, my name is Lesley, I'm part of Gateway Church in Leeds. Over 30 years ago, I was a full-time Mum with three very energetic children. We had, had a house that had taken 7 years to sell and many other challenges.
My husband John had stopped teaching and was a student again. A lot of our friends were going on holiday or business trips to America. We couldn't afford to, so I prayed that we could one day go to the U.S.A. John was offered a chance to study at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Before he went for his interview with the professor, we agreed that he wouldn't go away from the family for more than three months. I immediately started asking God,’ Could I go for at least two weeks?’ And then God said, ‘Don't worry, you're all going!’. When John came home, he started to tell me and guess what I said? ‘I know we're all going!’ ‘Yes!’ said John, ‘He's paying for all of us to go for six months!’ That was amazing. The year before, I had prayed another prayer.
For 12 years I played in orchestras and my instruments were kettle drums and percussion. I had asked God,’ Could I have an opportunity to play one more time? After our arrival in Pittsburgh, we discovered that the wonderful church that God had clearly led us to were preparing for a special orchestral music concert to celebrate the opening of their new sanctuary. They said they've got enough musicians now, but they just needed a kettle drum player. Neither I nor they could believe it when I said I used to play timpani, and I could play for them.
They hired some timpani, bought me sticks, gave me a cassette tape player and a cassette recording of all the music for me to practice at home on the sofa. My Father God had listened to the prayers of a full-time Mum, who from time to time, although loving her children to bits, I would occasionally miss being a musician. Not only did I get to go to the U.S.A., but we were also led to the one church in Pittsburgh that needed a timpani player. To me, it is a miracle, and I thank God for listening to my prayer and his amazing kindness to me and my family.
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