Their team had rallied behind them all along the way, especially this last month. Even people not on their team started fighting hard for them. They made some head way, but sadly, it was too little too late. Their team had spent this whole last month praying for the best, but at the same time, preparing for the worse in their departure. They had put so much effort into fundraising, but after this final deadline came and went, they came up $10,000 short.
The first night here at debrief, it was announced that Josh and Jen were officially going home. Their plane tickets had been bought and they were leaving us. We gathered around and prayed over them. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Jen shared what was on her heart: that she didn’t want to go home, she didn’t want to leave the Race with regrets, but was at peace if the Lord was calling them home. She had been offered a writing internship at AIM headquarters and was thinking that’s where they were headed.
Josh also shared a bit: he had heard the Lord telling him back in Month 3 that they would be finishing the Race and NOT leaving early. But where was He now? Was that really His voice that Josh had heard?
We have been preparing as a squad to send them off shortly after we get to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. It really sucked to see two of our family members being severed from us. But, we still, we trust in God’s perfect plan for their lives, and our lives.
But then God showed up.
The Creator of the Universe, the Orchestrator of every detail of our lives.
In the 11th hour, so that NO MAN could take credit for what He was about to do.
At this morning’s session, one of our squadmates stood up in front of the rest of the squad and did the unthinkable. I know it was not of himself, as he said so himself that he is not one to stand in front of people and speak out, especially with such a powerful word he was about to bring.
He stood up and said that it was wrong that two people eon our squad had to be going home against their will. How could we claim to be the body of Christ when we weren’t even willing to come alongside our brother and sister and provide for their need? As he spoke, I was reminded of the early church in Acts where NO ONE was in need. Those believers that had a lot gave to the church. And those with little also gave to the church. And no one was in need. Everyone was taken care of by the church.
I was instantly convicted when he started talking. I had felt God telling me to donate to Josh and Jen for a few months now, but my doubts got the best of me. I never did donate to them. What if they didn’t make it? What would my donation be good for then?
He continued with unbelievable courage and conviction. He claimed that he knew that there was at least $10,000 sitting in the room. He crunched the numbers and if everyone on the squad gave $150, Josh and Jen would be fully-funded. So, he passed out slips of paper and asked everyone to pray about how much they were willing to give to Josh and Jen.
The people on our squad range from 21-35. We all understand that we are at different points in life; some of us are fresh out of college (some with a degree, some not) and some of us have already had a career or a few. But still we all prayed about what we could give. The slips were turned back in and added up. If they did not equal the amount needed, we would hand out slips again and pray again to see if anyone could donate more. If the amount stopped increasing, we would take that as a sign that it truly was God’s will for them to go back to the States.
But we didn’t need to do that.
After 5 minutes of prayer, the slips were turned in and added up. A slip was handed to Josh with the grand total:
$12,012!!!
Rejoicing broke out.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, but this time, they were tears of JOY. Josh and Jen weren’t going home!!!
The squad leaders immediately contacted headquarters to see what this meant. $12,000 was just pledged and we were confident that as a squad, we would follow through.
A few hours later, I got to talk to Jen a bit more. She told me that the office had accidentally purchased them tickets to Cambodia. (!!!!) So they were in the clear. And the tickets that were purchased for them to fly home? They cost about $2,000, the excess raised that could go towards covering that cost if need be.
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?!
It took Moriah stepping out in faith declaring that the fight for Josh and Jen wasn’t over, that they weren’t going home
It took Anton stepping up in courage and calling out the squad as a whole.
It took God a mere 5 minutes to do what Josh and Jen had been trying to do for 2 years.
They had been looking for people back in the States to come through for them. Who would have thought the answer to their prayers was sitting in the same room with them, was living life with them?
God truly is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider!
Here is Jen's side of the story.
