“Lord, I pray that you would bless the time I am about to spend with my squad mate in… OH SHOOT!”
My prayer changed quite abruptly as I drove down to visit my squad mate in Miami. I’m not sure I ever did finish that sentence. I have lived in South Florida for 4 and a half years and I have always wanted to visit this famous city but never had the chance. I knew I would have some free time for a couple days so I thought, why not see if I can go meet my new friend who lives in the very place I’ve always wanted to visit.
My car, Miguel, is infamous for wreaking havoc on my life. No matter how sweetly I talk to him or how much I pray over him, something seems to always be wrong. On my way down to Miami things seemed to be working out okay, just the usual run-of-the-mill kind of problems that I knew wouldn’t cause it to stop working just yet. I really only needed it to last me for a little while longer. Everything was calm during the first 30 minutes of my drive. My GPS so kindly guided me through unfamiliar roads, relaxing indie worship played softly in the background and I quietly whispered a prayer over this time with my squad mate.
THEN…. Tick tick tick tick… HOT! VERY, VERY HOT! Murphy’s law in action. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong in an instant. Miguel sang a cacophony of melodies that were anything but music to my ears. The thermostat shot up past the red faster than an Olympic sprinter could make it to the finish line! I was nervous at that point but when my air conditioner started blowing air hotter than Hades at my face, I started panicking.
Immediately, I pulled in to the nearest parking lot, I saw the smoke rising and heard that something was quickly leaking. It was just a dripping sound but in my ears it sounded like raging river. Not knowing what to do, I started dialing the number of anyone who would know what to do. My Dad, my grandfather, the random mechanic I met a couple months ago, I didn’t care who it was I just wanted someone to answer their phone!
Someone eventually did and I figured out what was wrong but not what do about it. In the meantime, a mechanic stopped to help and proceeded to tell me more things that were wrong but not what to do. After several long minutes, I finally got a hold of The Man with an actual plan, The Man who could actually tell me what to do. The one and only D.A.D (Deft Adult with Determination). It’s a real thing, M.O.Ms are Marvelous Outstanding and Meticulous in case you were wondering.
After much verbal muddling through of the possibilities and non-possibilities, I finally had an official plan of action to carry out! I found an auto shop not too far down the street that I drove out to with EXTREME caution, potentially leading fellow drivers to believe I was a neurotic sloth, which would not have been too far from the truth as that is exactly what I felt like in that moment.
Amidst all my frustration, I felt a strange peace as I walked into the well-furnished office. The dark wooden counter towered over a young receptionist in the seat behind it.
“First question: is everything okay?” She asked and I nodded in response. “Okay good let me get the paperwork then.” As she found the paperwork and rattled off some pricing rules and regulations, I noticed that her wrist was adorned with a world map and a bracelet made up of several white crosses. I had a feeling that the peace I felt as I entered had something to do with the Holy Spirit living in the both of us.
After I figured out my ride and all other logistics, I sat down in one of the many black chairs in front of her counter.
“Have you seen that video of Melania Trump?” She asked me suddenly.
“No, not yet, what happened?”
She answered my question and gave her own opinion. At some point in her explanation she said, “Well, I’m a believer in Christ and I believe He will intervene.” I knew it! That’s exactly where my strange peace was coming from.
“Yes! I am as well. In fact, in a couple weeks I’m leaving to be on mission for Christ for 11 months all over the world.” I told her all about where I was going as well as what Adventures in Missions and the World Race are.
“I need more friends like you!” She exclaimed with exuberance, “My husband and I would like to do something like that someday!” Her passion helped me to feel inspired to go once again. I gave her my blog information and the World Race website as she was beyond eager to see and hear more about it.
Not only did she look at my blog but she also looked at the blogs of everyone on my team. When she noticed that one of my team members was a little farther behind she declared, “Oh no! This girl looks like she has been left behind!” In that moment I realized that no one on my team would truly be fully funded until every single one of us was fully funded. If one of us wasn’t launching, I wasn’t launching either. I finally started to grasp the true meaning of community and unity with that one statement. No way was I letting my teammate get left behind!
The woman behind the counter went on about how people don’t realize that even small amounts can make a huge difference and I agreed wholeheartedly. “I almost want to give a little something to her so that she can go with you guys.”
I jumped on that right away! This was my opportunity to stand in the gap for my girl. “Please do! I am sure she would be super blessed by that, no matter how much you are able to give. She still has to raise a few thousand more so that she can go with us and we NEED her to be there.”
Our conversation continued from there. It was so refreshing to hear her heart and her story. It felt so amazing to have the Lord use me to have my teammate’s back before we even left. Even without my team physically there I felt so much closer to each of them than I had before.
I cannot wait to have even greater moments than this as I vow to stand and fight in solidarity with and for my sisters in Christ. There will be no woman left behind!
WE are the Gentle Embers. Get ready world because WE are coming to set fire to your hearts and souls. Together WE will stand strong and be fierce, burning down walls and creating a gentle oasis for its weary inhabitants. Watch out world because here WE come.
Here’s what you can do to keep and my team together: I am now trying to sell the aforementioned car if you or anyone you know is interested please view my post on Facebook and send me a message for more information (it has tons of new parts now so it shouldn’t wreak too much havoc on your life). I also still have notebooks and stickers up for sale if you are interested in that as well. The stickers are only $1 dollar and I have LOTS left. That dollar can go a long way! I have $3,610 left until I am fully funded and my Gentle Embers sisters still have LOTS more to go as well.
Thanks for reading! You guys are AWESOME! I can’t wait to share what God does in our hearts and lives during these next 11 months! Go team!
