I was sitting on the couch drinking the coffee John’s wife, Daisy, shared with us as I watched on the screen a recording of a Bribri woman carrying her very ill child through the jungle to a clearing. Hovering above the clearing was a helicopter from San Jose, unable to land because the clearing was too small. A rope with a bag attached to it was lowered. The baby was placed inside the bag and lifted back up to the helicopter, which then took the child to receive medical care.
Over a year ago now, John gave this recording to a friend, while he was visiting in the states. It was then passed along until it reached the sheriff’s department. Next thing to happen, John received a phone call, telling him the department had recently bought new rescue equipment and they were getting rid of the old equipment. After seeing the recording, they wanted to give him their old rescue basket. With the dream of someday having a helicopter for his ministry, John accepted this donation.
But now, what to do with that enormous basket? John decided not to leave the basket in the US. He took it to the post office and mailed it to Costa Rica… for $500. All the way home from the post office, he berated himself to spending money he didn’t have to send this basket for a helicopter that didn’t exist, in essence “putting the cart before the horse.” Upon arriving home, he spent the rest of the day fuming at this bad decision. That night, John received a phone call from a friend of a friend.
“Hi John! I sold my business a couple months ago, and the Lord told me to give you $250,000 from it.”
So, guess who got to buy, not ONE, but THREE small helicopters for his ministry? That’s right – John! Thanks to Jesus, who provides the horse, when we step out in faith with the cart!
Or can I tell you about the time a couple years ago, John went with his uncle to help his uncle buy a new airplane. As his uncle shared with the plane’s owner about John’s ministry, they called him over to discuss the work being done. Suddenly, the owner of the plane looked at John’s uncle and said,
“I’ve decided not to sell you my plane…
…because I’m giving it to John.”
What?!
And it’s not just any plane – it’s a Cessna 180, which is an ideal plane for making landings on short runways in the jungle.
And John has even more stories about the provision and faithfulness of God. It’s amazing!
John’s remark to us was, “Can you build your faith by sitting on a couch or in a pew, reading Bible stories of God’s work in other people? No. Your faith gets built when you are put in a position where all you can do is depend on God.”
Scriptures says our God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills,” and He “will provide all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If the Lord has called us, He will make all things happen in His time.
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