Angels on Assignment: My Path in God's Hands

Looking back over my career, I see a clear pattern of divine intervention at every crossroads. When doors closed, windows opened in ways I could never have orchestrated myself. Here is my testimony of God's faithfulness.

It was August of 1993, freshly graduated from Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone. I had dreams of economics, law, and international finance. I was invited to stay at the university under a professor for a few years, but then we took a trip to Houston, Texas, and plans changed. Many options were weighed, and a decision was made to stay for graduate school and then return to Freetown and the university.

My first instinct was law school, then the rest. I failed the LSAT entry exam miserably. Twice. It was the first time I had failed at anything related to school. The experience felt foreign and very unwelcome. I wrestled for weeks about next steps. One day, I took an all-day trip to Galveston Beach and had a long heart-to-heart conversation with the LORD. I stayed all day. I was not leaving until I heard from Him. My request was simple: "Take this desire away if it's not of You, and open my eyes to Your plan."

He answered. My eyes were opened to business school. I had my heart set on Rice University, but it turned out to be financially out of reach. So I ended up at Texas Southern University (TSU) as my next best option.

Once I was accepted, post the trauma of the GRE requirements, I faced another challenge. On a visitor visa, I needed it converted to a student visa to enable my stay. This meant showing proof of support in funds for the duration of my stay and payment for the first year's tuition in full as an international student.

One sunny day, I made my way to the international student office for the consultation. I met an older African American lady in the office. We chatted for about an hour about my beloved Sierra Leone. She had tons of questions, and I had tons of stories to tell. She gave me pointers on campus activities and student life.

All of a sudden we both remembered why I was there! So we went back to the business of a student visa. She gave me forms to complete. I did. I told her the story of me attempting independence and going it on my own without my parents, which meant I did not have most of the requirements or supporting financial resources. With a big smile, she said, "Complete the forms, come back next week." I wasn't sure what to expect.

I held on for the week and returned to the office. A package in a brown envelope with my name was handed to me. I had been awarded a three-year student visa! A three-year student visa that made it possible to stay in the country legally while I completed my degree, despite my incomplete documentation!

The first of many angels on my journey.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

Fast forward to the next year, and an out-of-state move meant a transfer from TSU to Temple University. Again, once I was accepted, I connected with the international student office to sort out the transfer of my visa.

Another African American lady at the office sorted it out! This time I ended up as an in-state student at the university. I paid in-state rates to get my business school degree at Temple University on an international student visa, something that should have been impossible.

Another angel on assignment on my journey!

At Temple, I joined the Black MBA Association and began the conference circuits across the country, networking and job hunting. My heart was set on New York City, so I targeted the big firms. Rejection after rejection! Great interviews but no offers.

In 2001, at a Black MBA conference in Orlando, Florida, I was actively networking again, going from booth to booth. At this point I was avoiding the big firms. I walked by the JPMorgan Chase booth and started a conversation with a Nigerian lady who had moved recently from London, England.

We chatted about the conference, business school experiences, growing up in West Africa, trips to London, and more. After the chat, we exchanged information and I attempted to leave. She asked me for my resume. I laughed and said no thanks after two rejections from JPMorgan Chase. She asked me to give them one more chance and promised she would make sure to get it into the right hands.

Exactly a week later, I received a call inviting me to spend a few days in downtown NYC. I made the trip and walked through the World Trade Center to the Chase building. Great interviews and sessions. Amazing people and company. I could see myself there. But I had been here before and did not want to get my hopes up.

By the time I made it back home to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I had a message in my inbox from HR with the offer of my dreams!

Once I settled into my new digs in the city, I started the search for my destiny connector to say thank you. I searched the directory, checked with HR, asked colleagues, nothing came up for weeks. No sign of her. No record of anyone matching her description working at the firm during that time.

Call it what you want, but yet another angel on my path, ushering me to the next phase in God's plan and timing.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." — Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

After a fulfilling decade at JPMorgan Chase in New York, another cross-state move brought new challenges. This time it was the DC job market after years in corporate America. Consulting was the favorable option initially, but it was too demanding as my kids were young. I needed a better work-life balance.

The federal government was the central but unwanted choice. I believed all the myths about government workers: lazy, apathetic, and uninvolved. I was too driven for that, so I wanted no part of it. After months of searching, I succumbed to taking a look at the federal option. The cumbersome application process was insurmountable in my view. "Too experienced for this," I thought. So I started many applications but never completed them.

One day I got an email from someone at the IRS. He had seen my resume online in one of their job announcements. He wanted me to go in and finish the application so we could chat. I thought nothing of it, but folks around me familiar with the process told me how highly unusual this was, this was more or less a job offer.

So, needless to say, I actually completed that single application. An interview later (which nearly didn't happen due to a scheduling confusion that was miraculously resolved), I was offered a job at the federal government as a senior analyst.

It turned out the person who had reached out had recently been brought in from corporate America. He was putting together a team and had intentionally searched through resumes looking for folks from outside the government! Of all the resumes in the system, he found mine.

The handprint of God has been all over my life in unmistakable and dramatic ways, especially in the area of my career, jobs, and connections. The stories are endless! Every step has been dramatic and miraculous, each one preparing me for the next phase of His purpose.

Father, I honor You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life! All glory and honor to You, and You alone! Hallelujah!