God's
Glory, My Story
by Yvonne Ortega
The brochure
arrived for the 2005 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I tried
not to look at it because of the distance from Virginia to Colorado
but felt the urge to do so. The number of editors impressed me.
God, are you trying to tell me something? Of course, you're
not. The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference is within
driving distance. Two of my friends plan to go, and we can share
a room and split the gas bill.
I sent an e-mail
to Marlene Bagnull, the director of both conferences. I told her
about my cancer devotional, and she mentioned three publishers who
might be interested in it. I asked her if those editors would also
be in Philadelphia . She said they wouldn't.
But God,
you must have some editor going to Philadelphia who would want my
manuscript. You want me to be a good steward of my money, don’t
you?
Marlene described
the retreat setting at Estes Park and said attendees found it uplifting.
I explained that two of my friends planned to attend the Philadelphia
conference. We could drive together and share a room. That would
bless me and not strain my budget.
Marlene offered
to find me two roommates.
I agreed to
pray about which conference to attend.
That weekend
I studied the brochure. The setting sounded wonderful, but I support
myself. God, maybe you can help me find a reasonable
flight. A phone call to the airlines proved otherwise. God,
it makes more sense to go to Philadelphia.
My prayer partner,
Donna, reminded me that God's ways are not ours and often He doesn't
make sense to us. She told me if she were single and didn't have
to worry about a husband and three sons, she would go.
Meanwhile Marlene
continued to pray and sensed I should attend the Colorado conference.
She sent another e-mail. She offered to help me find a bargain flight
online and a partial scholarship.
Then I noticed
the fine print about the cost of the shuttle each way. Oh God,
I can't spend that much money. You must want me to go to Philadelphia
with my friends. In spite of my objections, I felt no peace
and decided to go to Colorado.
Marlene found
me a cheaper flight and assured me of a ride to and from the airport.
After I reserved
my flight, I called my parents. They shared the same enthusiasm
Marlene did. My dad told me he would send me a check to help with
the expenses. He didn't say how much, but it turned out to be the
exact amount as my flight.
The retreat
setting at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference provided rest
and relaxation. God blessed me with two wonderful roommates. While
at the conference, my mentor, Cec Murphey , introduced me to the
author, Wayne Holmes. Wayne later accepted my story, It's Part
of Life, for his compilation, The Embrace of a Father,
which Bethany House published in 2006. One fifteen-minute appointment
with Bill Petersen, the Senior Acquisitions Editor for Revell, resulted
in a contract. My book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer,
came out May 1, 2007.
And my two friends?
They didn't make it to the Philadelphia conference.
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