My preparations are well underway for my trip; I ordered my tent on Monday! I can’t believe it is only 6 months until my launch date!
I wanted to share two incredible stories that have happened to me over the past couple weeks that have shown me just how faithful God is when we are faithful to Him. The first story happened when I was at the Billy Graham Library to take pictures for the World Race (those will be posted soon!). My friend, Katie, and I were exploring Billy Graham’s childhood home and chatting with some security personnel standing nearby. I felt prompted to share with the two men that I am preparing for this mission trip, so I did. They didn’t really seem to care; the conversation quickly moved back to the house we were standing in. I felt a momentary sense of disappointment. Why had God wanted me to share this information if the guys standing there weren’t going to care? But I moved on, thinking that I had misheard God. Then a few minutes later, a tour guide came over to talk with us as well. Katie mentioned my trip briefly and this guy was much more interested! He asked where I was going and what I was going to be doing there. Eventually he asked to lay hands on Katie and I and pray for us. It was one of the most awesome experiences, getting to connect with a stranger through prayer.
The second story happened just a couple days ago. A few students, a volunteer, and I were grabbing a late night snack at McDonald’s when a random woman asked us if we were part of a support group. We responded that we were just a youth group, sharing a meal. She told us that she had overheard part of our conversation and found it encouraging. After hearing her say this, the students and I felt lead to pray over this woman right there in the middle of the restaurant. This lady then asked us to pull up chairs and talk with her a little bit. Once we all sat down she shared with us that she had just dropped her children off at their foster parents’ house and she was on her way home to an empty house. We talked with her for nearly two hours, sharing encouraging words, Bible verses, and stories. Right before we were about to leave, the woman told us that she had been on her way to buy some drugs after being sober for two years, but because of the things we had said she no longer felt the desire to use.
I wanted to share these stories, not to highlight my own success, but to point back to God. He was the one who prompted me to share with the security guard and tour guide at the Billy Graham Library. He was the one who prompted that woman to interrupt our conversation at McDonald’s. He was the one who urged me to pray for that woman. He was the one who gave each of us the words to say to bring her back from the edge of addiction. And through each of those whisperings, He brought about something amazing. I hope that when you feel that tug to talk to someone, to share a word of encouragement, to pray for someone, or pay for their meal, that you would be faithful. God blesses those who are faithful to Him, and when you are obedient in the small tasks, He will trust you with bigger ones.
