Perpetual Education Fund Blesses a Member in Ecuador
Contributed By By Nadia Sofia Ruiz Villacis, Church News contributor
“Education is the key to opportunity.” —President Gordon B. Hinckley
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I am very thankful to the Lord for having inspired the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley to create the Perpetual Education Fund. There is no doubt that the Lord is concerned for His Saints.
Several years ago I was experiencing a family crisis (my parents separated, I was unemployed, and I had scarce financial resources). I decided to apply for a PEF loan to study accounting technology. Just when I was finishing the three-year program, it was expanded, so I had the opportunity to earn a degree in accounting and auditing engineering.
Right from my first year of studies, the Lord blessed me with a job. It was hard to work and study at the same time, but I received a lot of divine help.
Even though dividing my time between studies and work would wear me out, I never stopped serving in my callings in the Church. One semester at the university I even received an award for obtaining the best grade point average of all the students in the accounting and auditing program. I recognize that my success is a fulfillment of the scripture that says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
I received many other blessings as I pursued my education. A few days before I defended my thesis, I confess that I felt very nervous. I received a priesthood blessing the day before, and everything improved. In fact, I was able to sleep calmly the night before, and I was able to remember everything I had studied. I also prayed a lot for my thesis companion, and her performance improved. We received a score of 98.33 out of 100. Even my thesis companion, who is not a member of the Church, believes that we received divine help and that a miracle occurred.
I got a job that gives me more time to be with my family and to serve in the Church. I am blessed with the opportunity to be a seminary teacher and stake young single adult representative. I also feel thankful for the institute program, from which I have graduated. It is marvelous and helps students to establish priorities. In addition, I will achieve my goal to be sealed to my fiancé in a holy temple.
I know that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father and that we have a divine potential we must develop. We are not alone in this life—we receive help both from Heavenly Father and from earthly angels, such as our families, leaders, and friends. I know that when we strive to be faithful and diligent, the Lord blesses us.
—Nadia Sofia Ruiz Villacis, La Toma Ward, Guayaquil Ecuador Puerto Nuevo Stake
