This is a testimony from September that I thought I would share here regardless because someone out there might need a similar reassurance. =) This testimony was dated 15/9/2013 on my personal tumblr.
We have just returned from a trip to Penang with my husband’s parents and our toddler. It was a blessed trip which had Daddy God’s handprints all over it- we had our rooms upgraded twice (from superior to deluxe, and then again to premium deluxe), the stormy skies cleared to give way to fine weather during our stay then getting stormy again after we arrived at the airport for our flight home, we happened to stay at a hotel right next to where a friend of mine works so we could fellowship over meals and she even got us rebates for the hotel we stayed at as it was affiliated to her employer, I could go on about all the wonderful blessings we received during this trip, but one of the greatest evidence of Abba’s amazing grace and love this time round was the way He returned my iPhone to me. This was a huge testimony to our family, our children, our friends and to us.
We had just touched down in Penang and we boarded a taxi to take us fro the Airport to the hotel in the City. During the ride, as the cab was squeezy, my bag was placed on the floor. When I took out toys out to placate my toddler who was fussing, I zipped my bag but not fully.
About 5 minutes after disembarking at the hotel, I wanted to take my iPhone out to snap some photos. It was then that I realised that my iPhone was gone! I dug through my bag frantically but it was not there. My iPhone had no signal (I did not apply for mobile roaming) and was still on airplane, silent mode. There was no way to call my iPhone to see if someone would return it. I could not use the application called “Find my phone” either.
My father-in-law had the taxi booking ticket issued by the taxi company but it did not have the license plate of the cab we took. The hotel concierge was very kind to us and I am sure it was the LORD’s abounding favor. He helped me dial the taxi company’s airport office for half an hour non-stop, using both the hotel phone and his personal mobile phone. Despite his repeated attempts, no one answered the phone. It felt like a lost cause as each minute flew us by and it was such a horrible way to start our 5 day holiday. In my iPhone are treasured photos & videos, my precious sermon notes and quiet time memos- these are all priceless to me.
I had my anointing oil with me so taking it out and anointing our hands, my husband and I prayed quietly in tongues even as my parents in law declared my iPhone would be found by the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ. I prayed at one point, “Jesus is. So Jesus is also my iPhone’s restoration to me. Amen!” Right then, I heard the concierge speaking to someone on the phone. Someone had FINALLY picked up the phone at the taxi company’s airport office. The concierge quickly updated us – the telephone operator was going to let the drivers know that I had dropped my iPhone in their cab and would wait for someone to respond before getting back to us.
A part of me felt some anxiety. Have we now shot ourselves in the foot? Would the driver know to look for our iPhone and keep it for his personal gain? An iPhone costs very dear and can be sold for several hundred dollars. I am sure that is a lot in Ringgit. My neighbor had just dropped her iPhone in Singapore and lost it for good recently. But right away the LORD placed in my heart a reminder from 2 Kings 6 where Elisha threw a stick into the water and the iron axe head floated. I was also reminded of Ps Prince’s account of how Jessica’s lost retainer in a bin at Little India was recovered despite it being an impossible situation too. The LORD is no respecter of persons and I was sure that the iPhone would find its way back to us. He is a God of ALL things possible.
About 25 minutes or so later, the concierge came over to let us know that the driver had contacted the operator. He had found my iPhone under his chair. Apparently, when he braked, it fell out from my bag under his chair. This is why the passenger after us did not see my iPhone and also why we did not see it when we did our usual cursory glance back at the seats before we shut the taxi’s door when we disembarked earlier on. I was told that he was on his way back to us with the iPhone and would just require us to pay for the metered fare for the trip and nothing more.
Less than 2 hours after I discovered my iPhone was gone, I was reunited with it. I am extremely grateful to Daddy God for His faithfulness and goodness to me. I am sure the cab driver is a person of integrity but I have no doubt that the LORD must have directed us to an honest driver and put it in this driver’s heart to do the right thing. We were able to enjoy the rest of the trip without any further heartbreak. All praise to Jesus!