Massive Loans & the Mercy of God
Today is a day to celebrate for me. First of all, it is my teacher's birthday, the teacher who initiated the single most important bible study I've ever learned and now teach, and who founded the church in which I have become a minister.
It's also a day to celebrate because for 6 years I have been fretting and worried about how I was going to pay back my school debt. To go to animation school in California I spent $90,000 which by the time I pay off in 30 years would be more like $120,000. I've prayed about it a lot and tried not to worry, but debtors relentlessly call, email, and send letters, not only to me but those who agreed to help me whenever I was out of the job and was having a hard time to make payments. On any given month I was paying anywhere from $300 to $900 in loan payments!!!
But today I finally registered for a direct consolidation loan from the government initiated by President Obama's administration. On this program you just have to pay 10 - 15% of your income each month for 25-30 years and then they forgive the rest of your loans after that. Your payments adjust according to how much or how little income you are bringing in. The flexibility is nice, but it still leaves that lingering though, "Guess I'll be free from debt by the time I'm 60 years old."
The coolest thing about this loan is that if you make payments while working for the state, as a teacher for example, then your payments will be forgiven after only 10 years (or 120 montly payments)! This is great because it means I can finally pursue my hope of becoming a teacher, even if it pays less and is less stable! Even if you're a substitute teacher only working part time, those payments still count towards your 120 payments!
I worried for so long because I just couldn't see how I was going to get out of so much debt. As a church planter, minister, and educator, it never seemed wise to make plans that depend on any large amounts of money suddenly coming in. But bankruptcy is not even an option for school debt, life without credit after default would be fine with me but not for those who cosigned my loans, and even a full-time salary income barely makes a dent when dealing with such numbers.
Every time I prayed I knew Jesus would make a way, but I just couldn't see how. It's hard not to worry until you see at least some possibility of hope. Now suddenly after 6 years, things don't seem so bad. As a matter of fact, I feel, free. Free to be an educator. Free to do the inglorious work of pioneering churches. Free to be a minister of the Lord.
What a happy day of life! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus.
