Yesterday, I posted Part 1…sorry for the cliffhanger. Here’s the next part of the story!
Mind mind races, “ A man. Walking away. With a cell phone. My phone is gone, this is it. I’m the first team member with stolen property. How will I take photos this year? How will I connect with home? Just my computer? No music?”
God whispers to me, “Kate, I am enough.”
Alyssa prays, “Lord, please help us. We don’t know what happened. Help us find the little boy again, help him lead us to this man. Please return Kate’s phone to her, give Kate peace and comfort for this moment. Help us trust you even more. In the name of Jesus Christ.”
My mind settles, my heart returns to a normal pace, and while still disappointed, I feel peace fill my thoughts.
Alyssa looks at me, “We’ve got to find that boy! He’s the answer, he can identify the man!” So, Alyssa and Hilary speed off to find the boy, while Alicia and I sit back in her tent to pray.
Alicia begins, her words full of praise to God and full of trust in Him. Then, it’s my turn. First, God shows me I need to pray for total dependence on Him, I don’t need that phone to fully experience the World Race. Where do I place my trust? In physical comforts or in Him? God will provide. Then, I ask God to help me not blame my teammates for leaving Alicia alone and the home unlocked and I ask God to help me not blame our gracious host for not being home when we needed her. No one is to blame.
I cry out to God, “Use this to bring another lost soul into your family. Lord, it’s not about me. It’s not about my phone. Father, turn what’s meant to harm me and my team into something beautiful for your kingdom. Lord, let us find the thief and share your word with him.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
After awhile, the other girls return to our tent haven. For the second time in 2 days, we find ourselves dismantling tents in the dark and moving to a new location (the hotel where we can lock up our belongings). In the midst of packing, Nancy speaks up and says, “Hey guys, I just can’t get past the feeling that it was actually the little boy who took Kate’s phone. He knows too many, very specific details. And he keeps asking for the passcode.”
Everyone pauses for a moment as the wisdom of Nancy’s words sink into our minds. Rose instantly switches gears from packing, and focuses on the little boy. “We’ve got to talk to him! I can pray with him. I know exactly what to do now!” And so we make a plan to meet back at the hotel, as Nancy, Rose, Alyssa, and Naime (our translator) walk away to talk and pray with the little boy.
Suddenly, I get what the Lord is teaching me. My lost phone isn’t about me. It’s just like Luke 15. The lost sheep. The lost coin. The prodigal son. My lost phone.
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance”
(Luke 15: 7).
Bet you’re wondering what happens next. I’ll post the conclusion soon!
Love, Love, Love
Kate
