Marcy Wodajo, from Ethiopia, came to the U.S. after living with her husband in Kenya. Marcy’s husband had a job in Seattle, then Kansas City, and finally Wichita, and God blessed them with four children.
It wasn’t always easy, but Marcy prayed to God for her family to live in God’s will and for His protection. Marcy was faced with new challenges when her and her husband were divorced after a trial separation.
Her children seemed to be adjusting okay to the family changes, as she faithfully prayed for God’s help. Herson, who was very active in different sports, was in high school and was almost ready to graduate. When Pastor Dr. Todd Carter mentioned that parents should pray that their kids get caught when they aren’t walking the Godly path, Marcy knew exactly what he meant. While her son was on the wrestling team, he was randomly tested for drugs and the test came back positive.
When her son came home from visiting with friends smelling like marijuana, she told him he was not coming inside her house. He started living with another family and eventually dropped out of high school. Every morning and night Marcy would pray over his pillow,“Lord Jesus be with him and provide God’s protection.”
Her son visited her daughter at KU and became very sick while he was there. The family he had been living with asked that he return to his own home so as not to infect their younger children with possible swine flu. Marcy took this opportunity to care for her son and ask him what he was going to do with his life. Her son told her that he was going to get an apartment and continue working at a cafeteria at a local business. Marcy told him, “My house is your house, if you are going to school.”
Marcy believes God gives us free will and her son was choosing the wrong path. But she continued to pray over his pillow. After four months, he called home crying because his roommates had stolen money from him and he wanted to come home. He was ready to change his life.
After some counseling and an online class, he received his GED. He was offered a wrestling scholarship at Pratt Community College where he received a business degree. He went on to Truman University in Missouri, where he received his Bachelors degree in Management Studies with a minor in Religion and Philosophy. Today he is working on his Masters at Bradford University in England.
Throughout her journey, Marcy has never felt alone. She always prayed to God to protect her family. He always answered her by telling her, “You can count on my help!”
Marcy knows, “God is faithful! God is always there to answer your prayers.”
BY BJ WELLS | PHOTO BY BROCK GLENN