Musings by Yvonne. Selah!

ONE WORD SUMS UP MY LIFE: FAVOR!

C. Yvonne Karl

I had just finished a Master’s Degree in Spanish at Michigan State University when my friend Clayton called and asked if I would apply for a teaching position at then Gulf Coast Bible College because the current professor was retiring. I wasn’t interested in moving to Texas, but it did spur me to pick up the phone and inquire at Anderson College (now University) in Indiana. To my surprise, I received an immediate reply from Dean Nicholson and was invited to come for an interview that weekend.  I prayed, not sure what I had just done.

The college was of interest to me since I had grown up in the Church of God and had, in fact, hoped to attend undergraduate school there. Since I only received an honorary scholarship to AC, I had chosen instead to attend an HBC college in my home state where the Board of Legislature had given me a four-year scholarship to cover all of my expenses. I finished in three years and my high school principal, John Santrock, who was responsible for me getting the scholarship, had a teaching position ready for me. After teaching at my Alma Mater for three years, I packed my car and headed for Michigan State University where, thanks to Dr. Sarah Crosby, my college Spanish professor, I had secured a teaching assistantship. One year later, I had completed a master’s degree in Spanish.

My life can be summed up in one word, FAVOR. I have been blessed abundantly beyond anything I can think or imagine. Nevertheless, my insecurities were still many. I was well aware of my inadequacy in the Spanish language. I could take the textbook and follow it, but had very little experience actually living among Spanish-speaking people and learning to communicate in everyday Spanish. Thus I often felt intimidated and would remain silent. I had favor with my Spanish professors—most of whom were natives of Spain or Latin America—both in undergraduate and graduate school and they gave me glowing recommendations. How long would that favor last?

When I met Dean Nicholson at AC, he was both amiable and professional. After our get-acquainted talk, he escorted me to the foreign language department in Old Main. There I met with Dr. Osborne, a French professor who chaired the department, and Nilah Meier, a native speaker who taught Spanish and was going on sabbatical the following year—thus the need for a Spanish teacher at AC. How could I possibly fill her shoes? I remember very little about the interview with these two ladies except that fateful moment when Nilah began speaking to me in Spanish. She first commented on the turquoise bracelet I was wearing, and I knew that was my cue to say something. I recall vividly my insides shaking as I responded in Spanish. My only other memory about that meeting was the feeling of futility. Nilah walked me back to the Dean’s office.

A delightful meeting followed with the College President, Dr. Reardon, and I was on my way back to Michigan with a promise from the Dean that he would phone me the next Friday evening to give me their decision. I didn’t expect a “yes” even though I prayed, “God, I trust Your will.”(At the time I did not know that Dr. Nicolson had contacted my colleges for referrals and they had “highly” recommended me!)

“No way!” I told my parents. “No way!” Although I was academically qualified for the position, I felt inferior to the task and could not see myself moving to Anderson, Indiana or teaching in College.  Then it was Friday and my telephone was ringing. Did I hear correctly? Was Dean Nicholson really saying they wanted me to join the AC faculty? Was he really asking for my answer? Every fiber of my being was shouting, “No! I can’t do it!” when I heard myself say out loud, “Yes!” 

Over the years I have repeated this story to many people as an example of how God sometimes intervenes in our lives because He knows our heart better than we know it ourselves. He put “yes” in my mouth. He was preparing me for my future. I experienced His favor and the favor of those who loved Him—the dean, the president, the department chairman, and Nilah. I can think of no other reason why they would have unanimously accepted me except they responded to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. I had kept praying for “God’s will’ even though I couldn’t see it clearly.

During that summer of transition, as God would have it, Pastor Robert Hazen, (whose church I attended in Lansing during my time at MSU), recommended me to be the protestant minister to migrants in Michigan for the summer. This gave me opportunities to interact in Spanish—even gave the homily in Spanish at a Catholic mass (the priest got fired for inviting me behind the altar).

At the end of a wonderful summer 1966, I moved to Anderson, Indiana, and began my teaching job in Spanish and English composition. In September, on the first day I reported for duty, a handsome young man walked up behind me, got my attention, and introduced himself. His name was Julius Karl. He was a second year seminarian and part-time German instructor at the college. His office was across the hall from mine. Less than three months later, on Thanksgiving day, he proposed to me. We were engaged on Christmas Eve, and married the following November. All the time we were dating, we had prayed and studied the Word together and that “habit” followed us into our marriage.

That, my friends, was the reason I majored in Spanish. God, in His infinite wisdom, and in spite of my insecurities, directed my life in such a way that I would meet my husband and marry at age 27. It all began when I was in high school and studied Latin and Spanish and met Missionary Dondena Caldwell. I had thought perhaps some day I would be a missionary in a Spanish-speaking country. A few years later, I visited Mexico with my parents and younger siblings as we traveled through the mountains to Ciudad Victoria and on to Mexico City. Occasionally, I attempted to communicate in Spanish, but everywhere I went, people wanted to speak English. Never the less, many times over the years, I’ve drawn from my training to teach Spanish, yet it has not been a focus in my life. As an interesting side note, I married into a German family—not a Spanish one. But it was my Spanish that got me to the German I married. Think about it!

I cannot imagine being married to anyone other than Julius. God favored us with thirty-one years together and two wonderful children. I do understand how important studying the language was in bringing fulfillment to my life.

My advice after all of these years is: Seek to know God’s will and let him guide you to get there, no matter how insecure you may feel at the time!

To God be the glory. Great things He has done.

“Seek the Lord with your whole heart and you WILL find Him!”

-Deut. 4:29

P.S. I have so many stories to tell about insecurities and how God directed through me through them in various places, states, and countries. Just notice how often he puts people in your path to lead you. Trust HIM. He WILL lead and guide you!