Lisa’s Vision Fund

 BANANAS OVER GOD!

                                             October 17, 2016

Hello Everyone,

My name is Lisa Campbell.  I have practiced Occupational Therapy since 1992 (24 years), most of which has been fulfilling.  However, for the past several years, I have been praying to God for change, as I am burned out.

Blind in my right eye since birth due to a congenital cataract and uncontrolled glaucoma, I've learned to live with severe eye pain and migraines all of my adult life.  In 2013, the diseased eye started to adversely affect the sight in my left eye.  The stressful demands of my job became painfully unbearable.  Daily use of the computer started to exacerbate the deterioration of my remaining sight.   September 2013, I elected to have my right eye surgically removed.   On unpaid leave for seven months during recovery, God gave me rest.  I spent many days alone with Him, as He ministered to my spirit.  Worried about my health, my sight, my appearance, my finances, and career change....for a long time, I felt completely overwhelmed and no one knew, but God.  BUT, GOD.  It was during that time, He became more real to me.  God revealed Himself on such a personal level, I could almost SEE Him.  He gave me NEW SIGHT. He gave me INSIGHT.  I no longer viewed my circumstances in the same way.  May 2014, donned with my new prosthetic eye, I returned to work at the nursing home.  I had a new outlook on life.  During the past 7 months, God reassured me, "I GOT YOU.  TRUST ME."  Believing God's promise gave me the strength to go on.  Through the incredible love of my family and friends, many of my needs were met.  Despite feeling physically and mentally drained, for the past two years, I got up every morning to fulfill what God has called me to do.  I never stopped believing God.  

January 2016, I wrote these words on the black board in my kitchen: "I WILL NOT BE DOING THERAPY BY THE YEAR 2017.  I WILL HAVE MY OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, IN JESUS NAME!"

February 20, 2016, God spoke these words to me while at work:

"EVERY TIME YOU WALK OVER A THRESHOLD, I WANT YOU TO BE REMINDED THAT I HAVE ALREADY OPENED THE DOOR FOR YOU, JUST WALK THROUGH IT."   At that moment, Exodus 34:10 became very personal:  "Lord, I trust that You are opening doors for me that no man can shut." 

March 2016, the devil tried to discourage me, as he knew the blessing that God had in store for my life.  At the age of 48, I was diagnosed with hypertension, primarily due to stress.  I will never forget that day...While working, my blood pressure escalated to 179/101!

Dedicating 24 years of my life to the rehabilitation of others who have suffered from medical challenges such as heart attacks and strokes, Satan whispered in my ear..."You're next, Lisa."  Even during the course of writing this letter, my BP elevated to 142/101, although it was perfectly normal ALL DAY!  THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!!

"LORD, I TRUST THAT YOU ARE OPENING DOORS FOR ME THAT NO MAN (INCLUDING THE DEVIL) CAN SHUT!"

June 1, 2016, while on my way home from work, I reluctantly got off the bus two stops early, in order to purchase an avocado for dinner.  I was so tired, I really just wanted to go home; but, I changed my eating habits and I was determined to live. I got off that bus and walked into a local grocery store.   While inside, I noticed some banana pudding for sale entitled “THE BEST BANANA PUDDING."  I picked it up and jokingly approached the manager  saying, "This is not the best banana pudding.  My family and friends say that I make the best!"

GOD WAS ABOUT TO OPEN THAT DOOR!

 The woman I joked with happened to be the GENERAL MANAGER of the store.  She said, "WHY DON'T YOU BRING ME A SAMPLE OF YOUR BANANA PUDDING.  IF I LIKE IT, MAYBE WE CAN TALK."

At that moment, I was reminded of those words that God spoke to me on February 20, 2016: ".....I HAVE ALREADY OPENED THE DOOR FOR YOU, JUST WALK THROUGH IT."    I said to the manager, "Are you SERIOUS?"  She responded, "Yes, I am serious."  I cannot explain the joy I experienced when "YES" was uttered from her mouth.  I heard God saying, "YES, Lisa.  It's YOUR time.  I know you are tired.  I know you don't want to do therapy full-time anymore.  I am elevating YOU.  It's YOUR time."  

June 10, 2016, I went back to that market with my banana pudding in hand.  I walked over that threshold and God OPENED THE DOOR THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT!  Everyone loved my banana pudding! The manager, the employees, the customers...ALL LOVED IT!  THE MANAGER WANTS TO MARKET MY BANANA PUDDING IN HER GROCERY STORE!!!  Standing there with tears in my eyes, I listened to the manager say, "Ok, I will help you with whatever you need to get your business started." 

"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU," declares the Lord, "PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE." Jeremiah 29:11 

About ten years ago, God gave me a recipe for banana pudding through a dream.  I made it and carried it to work for my co-workers to sample.  They loved it and I have been making it for family and friends ever since. God really does know our plans, doesn't He?  I get chills every time I share this story...  NOBODY CAN TELL ME THAT GOD AIN'T REAL! 

WITH GREAT HUMILITY, I ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF MY BUSINESS:

BANANAS OVER BANANAS, LLC!  EVERY TIME I SHARE MY STORY, I REMIND PEOPLE THAT IT IS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THAT I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS BLESSINGS ON MY LIFE.  THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT HE CAN AND WILL DO THE SAME FOR THEM!  THIS IS MY TESTIMONY.  SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS BY WORD OF "TASTE."  EVERYONE WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH ME VIA MY BANANA PUDDING WILL BE BLESSED WITH HOPE WHEN THEY HEAR HOW GOD IS BLESSING ME.  ALTHOUGH MY KNOWLEDGE OF STARTING A BUSINESS IS ZERO TO NONE, GOD IS PLACING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN MY PATH EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.  PLEASE, KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS, AS GOD CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ME AND MY BUSINESS.  ALSO, IF YOU HAVE BEEN LED TO SOW A FINANCIAL SEED IN BANANAS OVER BANANAS, I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL, AS I HAVE SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE START-UP COSTS ARE GREAT.  BUT, WE SERVE A GREAT GOD AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, "LORD, I TRUST THAT YOU ARE OPENING DOORS FOR ME THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT." Exodus 34:10; And, “I WILL NOT BE DOING THERAPY BY THE YEAR 2017.  I WILL HAVE MY OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN JESUS NAME!"  AMEN! 

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my story. I pray that God will bless your socks off!

With Sincere Gratitude,   Lisa                                     

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