Sunday at 10:30 AM, I left for the airport with my parents, 2 suitcases each reaching the max limit (50.5 lbs each, actually), and carry-on baggage that weighed another 50 lbs.We were at the airport early, so I had the opportunity to just sit and relax with my parents for a bit. Just after noon, I headed through the security check and onto my gate. While waiting for the plane, I got to have a sweet phone conversation with a dear friend who also has a heart for missions. It kept me busy and free from worrying about flying (which I very much dislike).
The flight to Dallas went ok. We had a bit of turbulence, but I got a little sleep and the flight went fast. In Dallas, I began to realize the weight of my carry-ons as I struggled to carry them to my new terminal and gate. And…once I arrived at my gate, I ended up having to go back to where I started just to get dinner! But the Lord was (and is) my strength, and I made it back to my gate just before boarding time with my Starbucks double chocolate chip frappacino and Mc Donalds.
The flight left about an hour late, but somehow we still managed to arrive in Guate on time. The flight from Dallas to Guate was perhaps the best flight I’ve ever had between the US and Guate. Just before the plane took off, I got involved in a conversation with a girl who has taught in Nicaragua and was coming to Guate to do volunteer/missions work. She traded seats with the only other person in my row (the middle seat remained empty) and we chatted nearly the entire way. She has an incredible testimony of how God lifted her from a life of abuse, atheism, and teenage pregnancy to become an educated, working mother with a heart for the Lord and for seeing the lost saved. She teaches in inner-city New York and the passion I saw when she spoke of her job (where she tells kids about Jesus in her public school!) showed me that teaching is definitely her mission field. However, she feels called to make short term trips to countries throughout Central and South America to help however she can. This trip, she was bringing $1000 worth of baby and toddler clothes.
So, the story sounds interesting enough, but it gets better. This new friend was scheduled to travel with another friend of hers who had thought of the idea only a week before. The other friend had the guide books and was planning where they would go and stay and give the clothes. Well, Sunday morning, that friend had a seizure as she was loading up the car to leave! She was admitted to the hospital and this girl on the plane had no way to contact her for any of the plans. She had to choose if she would come alone—without any plan even as to where she’d stay when she arrived last night—or if she’d just cancel the trip. She told me that she felt that the fact that she was the ones with the clothes was enough to convince her that God still wanted her to go. So, she hopped on a plane and she’s now in Guatemala. I was able to give her all sorts of information on places she could stay and where she could donate the clothes. Just tonight I heard that she was able to go to one of the places I mentioned and they were very blessed by the gift.
When I boarded the plane I was unaware of where the rest of my support was going to come from and merely trusting that as I stepped out in faith, God would bless my trust and provide as He has promised me all summer that He will. As the girl was telling me about her church that sounds so on fire for Jesus, I had a quick thought that maybe I should ask her to share with the congregation about me and see if they might support me. I prayed that the Lord would direct our conversation and give me wisdom to know if I should say anything and what those words should be. Less than 5 minutes later, my friend just turned to me and said “I want to tell my church about you!” We talked more about it and I shared where I’m at financially. She said her church is full of people who love to give (did you catch that this trip she’s on was just thought of a week ago and she received all the clothes and money for the trip from her church the next day!) I was excited and amazed. I was trusting God to provide all $25,000 that I need for this year BEFORE I made it to Guatemala. I believed that God wanted to send me fully supported. I truly believe that this church may be the answer to the rest of the support I need, and though the money is not in my account, the contact was made before I actually landed in Guatemala. I’m really just awestruck at the thought of it. It reminds me of the story of Abraham, when the Lord tells him to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him on the mountain. Abraham has waited so long for a son, and now the Lord is telling him to sacrifice him! But Abraham, in faith and obedience, follows where the Lord has called him to go, trusting that God has a bigger plan than that which he can see. At the very last minute, when Isaac is already tied up to be sacrificed, God speaks to Abraham and tells him not to kill his son but rather to kill the ram that is tangled in the bushes. God brings Abraham to a point of no return. He waits to see just how much Abraham trusts him. He wants to know what will happen to his faith when he hears the Lord clearly calling, but doesn’t understand or like what the Lord is calling him to.
Thankfully, I was not called to sacrifice a kid, but I was called to sacrifice the comforts of home and the safe feeling of earning enough money to support myself. God didn’t want me doing it on my own anymore. He called me to do something that I can NOT do on my own. It’s up to Him to provide now. I heard His voice so clearly calling me to this—to teaching and CAG and living close to my favorite children’s home. But, as I walked in that direction, I did not understand why the money I needed was not coming in. I waited, and continued preparing to leave, believing that the Lord had told me when to return to Guatemala and the funds would be there by then. It wasn’t until the very last minute—when I was on the plane leaving the US—that God said, “Ok. Relax. You’ve followed me through your uncertainty. You’ve believed in me and my promises. Here’s the answer you were looking for. You have stood firm through the test and now I will bless you for your obedience.”
A-MAZING. Nothing short of it. And I write this with a strong conviction that all my support has essentially now been raised though the church in New York may not hear about me for another week or two. And don’t get me wrong. This friend did not promise that her church would give me money but she promised she would share my story and what I’m doing. And through that, God has given me a peace that I need not worry about the rest of my support.
The goodness and faithfulness and timing of the Lord just blows me away! I look forward to sharing this story in boasting in God’s great faithfulness even more when the funds arrive in my NLAI account. I cannot do this alone. I did not do this alone. But God had it all planned out from the beginning.
So, to finish up after that long story…I arrived in Guate on time and had no problems claiming bags, getting through customs, or finding the ladies that were picking me up. What a sweet blessing to be eagerly awaited by two wonderful members of my NLAI family.
Monday afternoon I received a call from a man willing to help me move my things from Xela to my new place, and all I'd have to do was pay for gas. So, Tuesday I took a series of taxis and buses and made it back to my old home. I enjoyed an evening of catching up with friends and walking through the city. Wednesday I spent the morning up at my old school (IAS) meeting new teachers, catching up with old ones, and helping out however anyone could use it. I made it back to my apartment in the city around 6 PM. There's much to be done still to get settled in, but I'm really happy to be here and have all my stuff, too.
Thanks for your prayers for safe travel and for all the financial support many of you have already given or pledged!
