Part I: America

God is so thoughtful, kind, generous, faithful, and oh so sweet! He just showed our family how much He loves us and that He does hear and answer our prayers. Bethany shared some news with me yesterday, and I am so excited, I want to tell the world!!

Most of you are probably aware that Bethany has been working at McMurry in the Religious Life office as the World Missions Intern since June of last year. This was a 14-month internship that will end at the end of July this summer (July ’14). We have all been praying about what she will do after that. God opened a door for her a few weeks ago and that prayer has been answered already! See? God does hear and answer!

So, some of you may or may not know that Bethany has applied and been accepted to be part of The World Race – a mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months! Her team is scheduled to launch sometime in January of 2015. She will do mission work in the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania! Of course, a trip like this does mean there are expenses that have to be covered, like airline flights, lodging (although some of their time lodging will include camping in tents & sleeping bags), food, insurance, etc. Each team member is expected to raise over $15,000 to cover their share of the expenses for the team. We are definitely praying about that!

Bethany has been researching different fundraising ideas, but also trying to figure out how she can earn and save money to help defray the cost herself. Her degree from McMurry is in Elementary Education and she is a certified teacher, but she doesn’t feel called to teach in a classroom at this time. She has, however, jumped through all the hoops to be a substitute in Abilene ISD. She would really love to continue living in Abilene, since she has become active in a church there, where she is spiritually nourished and also gives of herself to help others receive spiritual nourishment there. She has made many good friends who offer moral support, Christian counsel, and an enjoyable social life. She feels that continuing to live there will help her grow and maintain her independence. She has been living on campus during her internship, as the university agreed to furnish room & board (living in a Residence Hall on campus and a meal plan in the Cafeteria) as part of her salary. When the internship is over, she will no longer be able to live in the dorm, and we have been thinking that the practical thing would be to move back to Lubbock, apply to be on the LISD substitute list and live with us. Last summer, Bethany was able to house-sit for a family who traveled out of the state for a big part of the summer, and she was hoping that another opportunity like that might present itself for the months between August and January. But people don’t often travel like that during the school year, so her hopes were dwindling for free housing and she began wondering how much rent she might be able to afford, and still save money for her trip.

The other night, Bethany poured her heart out to God and told Him her desires and the reasons behind wanting to stay in Abilene, but acknowledged that He knows best and that she would follow His will for her living arrangements. Within 48 hours, a friend who is a pastor at a local church told her that he had dropped a paper on her desk with the name of an older woman who has been trying to sell her house for the past seven months and was living with her son. She wants someone to live in the house to be sure that it is ready for a realtor to show it without having to wonder if the water heater has leaked or if some other problem has occurred that would keep a buyer from wanting to buy. She is even willing to pay someone to live there! Bethany has visited with this woman and feels like this is the answer to her prayer!

Bethany was SO excited, she went to see two of her friends who live in a house together, so they could celebrate God’s goodness with her (shout out to Erin and Chels!!). While they were celebrating God’s provision in Bethany’s life, Erin offered to let Bethany live with her and Chels if the other house sold or it didn’t work out that she could actually live there and still have it be buyer ready. Bethany was appreciative, but explained that she would not be able to pay rent if she did move in with them. Erin then told Bethany about her vision for her home. Erin explained that her and Chels wanted their home to be a restful, rent-free launching/landing pad for missionaries preparing to go or just coming off the field and that Bethany fit the bill!! So not only did God provide Bethany a home starting as soon as she can move in, He also provided the “plan B” if that house should sell!!

About 10 days after that, Bethany got a random text from her previous landlord asking if she was free one morning that week to help her paint a room in their house that is being remodeled. That was kind of strange because her former landlord knows that Bethany works full time. But Bethany was planning to take a morning off anyway and needed to start earning money for the Race, so she accepted. While they were painting, they were both sharing stories of what the Lord had been doing in their lives and out of the blue, her landlord asked her where she was going to live until the Race. Bethany relayed the story you just read and ended by saying “Isn’t it crazy how abundantly the Lord provides?” Her landlord then said something along the lines of “Yeah, it is! Especially since I was going to offer for you to live in our front room until you launched.”

3 places to live for free!? The Lord is SO sweet.

To me, this is confirmation that God wants Bethany to be part of the World Race, and assurance that He will provide the funds for her to pay for her expenses! As I was pondering all of God’s goodness and provision, He showed me that it will only take 150 people to donate $100, and her trip
will be practically covered! AND GOD WILL GET THE GLORY!!!

If you would like to join God at work through The World Race and support Bethany, please click the button that says “Support me!” on the left hand side of the screen. Thanks to all you for reading this and celebrating the awesomeness of God with us!!!