Could Only Be God

After being in this beautiful country for close to two weeks now, it’s not hard to see why God chose this place to do so many miraculous and wonderful things.  These deserts and mountains have seen many wonders, one of which is yet to be seen.

 

 

I will give you the background story.  When I was on the WR the first time, we finished our time in Central America.   Our team stayed in several hostels during our time there, mainly because they were so cheap.  In one such place in Panama, a few of us met someone, we’ll call her Sally (there was debate on what name to use, but I liked this one).  Now Sally was from another country.  In fact, the country she’s from is the very same one where I now find myself.  We got to talking and a few of us became friends with Sally only to realize that we’d be leaving a few short days to head north to some other Central American countries.  We said our goodbyes and we left.

 

Nearly a month and a half later, our team found itself two weeks before final debrief.  We decided to stay in a hostel overlooking a lake to spend our last week as just our team together and just enjoy the fellowship.  It was one of the best weeks of my life.  In fact, just thinking about it, I kinda miss my Team Ignite family.  I’ll go on.  Low and behold, Sally arrives at the very SAME hostel.  Hmm.  We greeted her and told her that we were excited to see her.  Later that night, our team headed down to the dock to spend some time in worship.  It was a gorgeous moonlit night and I also remember my team bringing me some cake (my birthday had already been celebrated, but we didn’t have cake before.  Yum.  Sorry to sidetrack).  During that worship experience, Sally had wandered down to the dock because she had heard some singing.  She sat down.  She realized that the singing wasn’t exactly pop music.  She felt the urge that she should get up and not intrude but something told her that she should stay there.  So she remained there.  When our time had ended, Sally said that she had experienced something different there that she hadn’t before.  She knew that it was a special night and she knew that there was purpose in it.  Some of us spent some time just talking with Sally, kind of explaining why we do what we do.  How it is motivated from a place of such great love.  We talked about the WR and shared some stories.  It was a special time.  The next day, however, we found ourselves in a similar place saying goodbye once again to our friend.  But this time, we knew the Holy Spirit had left his mark.

 

Fast forward about 3 months.  I am home in Georgia teaching high school Spanish and coaching wrestling.  I get on a rather popular social-networking webpage to find out that my friend Sally had moved to my hometown.  Umm, how weird is that?!?!  Coincidence or could it be God?  Sally had moved there to pursue a relationship and possibly school.  She stayed about six months, and wouldn’t you know, we NEVER got a chance to hang out.  Schedules became too busy.  She had to head back to her home country and continue school there where it was much less expensive.  Missed opportunity, but hang on.

 

Jeanette had a trip planned to Israel already and had the chance to spend a day with Sally and reconnect on some old stories!  Really cool opportunity!

 

Now, over a year from the time that I first met my friend, I find myself in Israel with another WR squad.  Sally does not know the Lord.  I am living in a place about 10 minutes from her.  I’ve been invited with some friends over to her family’s house for a Shabat (sabbath) celebration this weekend.  How do all of these “coincidences” line up??  Could we actually just believe that God is after this one so passionately that he coordinated all of this just because of his great love for Sally?  So as we spend time with her this weekend, PLEASE cover us in prayer.  Pray that my words would not be my own but would be completely from the Lord.   He clearly has a special purpose and task for her in the Kingdom, I can’t wait to see what it is!!