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Hey fam!
As I was praying and thinking about what I would share with you this month, nothing was really coming to me. I figured it would just be an informational month as I am on my way to Detroit and have been preparing for that.

Oh, but no! Because as of yesterday, April 6, 2026, this newsletter became a testimony of two things: 1) How good and faithful our God is, and what an amazing provider He is, and 2) this Word will work if you work it!!!

I've shared with you that KAI's focus is exploring what it means to be a Kingdom artist. It's about exploring how we live out our yes to God in our art lives. And part of that is learning how we take these principles we find in His word and put them to work in the ways we live as artists and pursue these creative endeavors. This is what I'm always unpacking in my own walk. And if you're here, or have remained, it is because you are asking the same thing for yours.

So I live this stuff. I actually do it.
Anyway, to the testimony...
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First, some backstory.

I worked at a performing arts high school in downtown Los Angeles for seven years. One day, while I was standing in the hall hanging out with my students during a passing period, the Holy Spirit said, "4 years. In 4 years, it will be time to go." That's it. That's all He said. It was out of nowhere. But I know that voice. I went back to my students but I also began making preparations to leave in four years.

About two months after that, I was at church. I've been at my church since I was 17. And in all that time, my Bishop had never prophesied over me. But this day, October 31, 2012, He prayed over me. He said several things. And one of the things he said was, "In about 4 years, people will begin to call you from all over the world, especially Europe." God confirmed the word He gave me at school with that prophecy.

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Four years later, 2016, as the Lord said, I left the school. My last day packing up my classroom was on a Monday. And the very next day, I was on my way to Europe (Spain) for the first time. The only reason I ever considered Europe was because of the word of the Lord to me. Two days before I left for my first Europe trip (June 14, 2016), I asked my Bishop to pray for me. He prayed for me and prophesied a second time. "Again, I prophesy to you that someone there will open significant doors for you in Europe...and in Africa."

Africa? That was new. I didn't know anyone in Africa at the time. But I didn't know anyone in Europe when he prophesied about Europe. (I could tell you that story another time if you want). But I wrote it down and moved forward. I tell you about this because this is why I go to Europe every year. And this is why I am on my way to Africa this year. I am moving by faith in the path the Lord showed me (and has repeatedly confirmed) He has for me. I believed Him when He spoke to me and I have directed my life accordingly.

Every one of these trips have been an act of faith. I've never had the money to go when I committed to go. And I don't go for a weekend or two. I go to these places for 1-3 months at a time. One time, it was 6 months. (That was so, so much fun!). Africa is no different. I committed to go with no money to travel there at all. But, the Lord has always been faithful. I have never missed a trip. A couple have been a little hairier than I'd like, but I've never missed a trip. God has always provided. And not through support raising.

I'm a black woman from a non-denominational background. We didn't do missions. And I don't have a community of people to support me in traveling to do this work. At least I didn't. I'm believing God that He will bring such people into my life. Plus, I HATE asking for money. So I pleaded with God not to make me do it. And He hasn't thus far. He's always brought projects and opportunities out of nowhere that would give me the money I needed to pay for my trips.

This year was different.
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The principles.

So I told you I work these principles. I am a faithful tither. I declare God's word over my life. I take prophecy seriously when I know it's from God. I believe, excuse me---I know!, He talks to me directly through His Holy Spirit and leads me in my daily life. We're here today because of that leading. I believe in sowing beyond my tithe as the Holy Spirit leads. I live this stuff. And yesterday, God was faithful, yet again, to show me His principles will work if I work them!

I have a friend. Actually, he was my first high school boyfriend. 30 years ago. Ha! But we've remained friends over the years. Usually he'll pop up for a while. We'll talk regularly for a while. Then he'll disappear for some time. But I always know he's there. Now this friend is NOT a Christian. He is the farthest thing from one. He is foul-mouthed. Doesn't believe in monogamy. And tells me every chance He gets (when I bring it up) that He doesn't believe in that God #$%^&. Sarcastically, I reply yeah, okay. But He believes in you. Keep messing around. And then we laugh hysterically about something outrageous he's just said.

I tell you about him because he's the person my God used to bless me. Resurrection Sunday, I sowed a seed in a special offering we had at my church. We do it three times a year. In preparing for the offering, my Bishop spoke to the congregation about what the Lord had told him to share with us for this season. From Exodus 34:10: that the Lord has made a covenant with His people to do miracles in our lives. I needed that. Because it was only by a miracle that I was getting to Africa. I sowed my seed in my faith, remembering that God never let me miss a trip to the place He told me to go, and I believed He wouldn't start now.
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Back to my friend...

Monday, I was laying in the bed watching a movie. I needed to work on my website but it was rough getting out of bed after Sunday's shenanigans with the family after church. In the middle of the movie, my phone rings. It was my friend. I wasn't expecting to hear from him because he's been working a lot. When I picked up the phone, he said hello in whatever silly way he usually thinks of. Then the very next thing that came out of his mouth was, "Are you good for money?" I was taken aback. I was half asleep watching the movie when he called and this is not a man who concerns himself with things like this.

After chuckling from the abruptness, I told him I was good but my trip needed money. I told him I was believing God and we'll see what He does. We started talking about other things. He came back to the money. "So what do you need for your trip?" I told him I needed to buy the plane ticket. He asked me how much it was. I told him $2000. He quietly acknowledged it. We talked about other silly stuff. He, again, came back to the money. He asked me if I had a car. I told him I did. He said, "Because I have $2000 cash here at the house." I sat there, my jaw hanging open. I was too nervous to believe he would actually give it to me. That was a lot of money. Then I hear him counting the money over the phone. I sat still, in shock. We talk more about random stuff. Then he says, "Let me check what's in my account." He checks his account, says the amount, and processes through stuff he has to pay for soon. Then he asks, "Do I have your Zelle?" I just sat there. This was actually about to happen. Oh my God! Again, this is NOT a man who parts with his money easily. I would never have expected anything close to this from him.

He finds my name in his Zelle roster. "There you go. Marlita." Then he starts narrating what he's doing as he sets everything up to send the money over. A few seconds later, the notification comes through on my phone. I stare at it. I cannot believe he just did that. I thank him deeply. And I say something like My God is soo good. He replies, "God didn't do that. I did that." I replied, "Yes. You did do that. And I am so grateful. But I know why you did it." He made a noise. I asked him, "Is this what you do regularly? Do you just call people up and part with your money like this?" He told me no, peppered with his normal array of expletives. I chuckled. "I know you don't. I've known you for 30 years. But you did it for me. And I'm telling you, I know why you did it for me." We chuckled, talked about some other random stuff, and then he said IT---not really understanding what he just said.

He told me he was in the bathroom minding his business and then he heard a voice tell him to call Marlita and ask her what she needs money for. Then he said, "So that's why I'm calling." I told him, "See!" He asked, "So you trying to say God told me to call you?" "Exactly." He protested as usual. "I told you I don't believe in no God." "But you listened to Him. We're on the phone. Your money is in my account." We laughed.

Listen!!! Several things were going on.

1. I am moving in what God led me to do. Where He guides, He is faithful to provide.
2. I sowed my seed in faith at His direction. He led us to sow and I believed Him and I did it. There are promised rewards in His word when He believe and obey Him with our substance.
3. I kept my mouth. I kept saying, "Lord, I thank you that Africa is paid for. I don't know how you're going to do it. That's not my business. Just tell me what my part is. What do I need to do?" And when anxiety tried to creep in, the thoughts ran rampant, but they didn't come out of my mouth. What came out of my mouth is what I was believing. And it was helpful that last Sunday, my Bishop said, "You can have faith in your heart even if there is doubt in your head."

I share this to encourage you in the faithfulness of your God...even in provision. I've has enough conversations with brothers and sisters across denominations to know some will take issue with some of these things. But I am of the persuasion that if God says it in His word and shows me how to do it, I'm doing it---no matter what anybody says about it. I share about that here.

Know that the blessing of the Lord is upon you and He means nothing but good for you as you trust Him and follow His leading.
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Other news.

There are other things I need to pay for for Africa. If the Lord has put it on your heart to give to this trip, please reach out. I will receive it with gratitude and put it to good work.

I'm on my way to Detroit from April 17 - May 10. This residency be a mix of workshops, artist talks, book talks, and 1:1 sessions around the topics of faith, art, and vocation. I wanted to share some new workshops I've put together but this newsletter is already too long. I'll share it next month.

Website redesign. I have been working feverishly to rework the website at marlitahill.com. It is mostly done. There are still a few things I have to add and fix but it's most of the way there.

Blessings to you all! As always, I'd love to hear from you.
Marlita