Since being in New Orleans, I’ve had some pretty amazing days! Productive, full of time with my grandparents and plenty of time to overcome the inevitable jetlag. Mission Lab is in full swing right now though, so Grandma and Grandpa have been working hard to stay on top of things at work. My grandfather’s job includes overseeing groups of families as they work on various service projects within the city. Normally, Grandma would go with him to check in on these groups at their job sites. It just so happened that she was too busy with her own job to accompany him yesterday. Instead, I went along with Grandpa just to fill Grandma’s place. I could never have guessed what a blessing it would end up being to visit that little church out in Bridge City!
I didn’t know much about the church we were visiting. I had no clue who this particular Mission Lab team were. I was just happy to be tagging along for a few minutes. As we walked through Bridge City Baptist Church, I felt a sense of familiarity. I had grown up in small town churches just like this one. The ongoing VBS was bustling and full of eager helpers talking the children through games and science experiments. In the kitchen, several ladies were preparing what I assumed to be snacks. Eventually, I started introducing myself to people I bumped into. Every person we saw was excited to meet us and I could definitely tell these were people after God’s own heart. As we talked and checked in, I could hear Grandpa introducing me to the head pastor of Bridge City. Pastor Mike immediately made me feel welcome with a smile and a handshake! Grandpa began to tell Pastor Mike about my upcoming mission trip, and his enthusiasm just about knocked me flat. In what felt like a whirlwind, Pastor Mike had me writing down my information and took my picture to post for their prayer group! Then he introduced me to the leader of the visiting Mission Lab team. This team was comprised of members from Park Place Baptist Church in Mississippi. Pastor Keith stood up, shook my hand, and asked me plenty of questions about World Race. His graciousness in hearing everything I had to say was so overwhelming and blessed me in that moment more than he probably realized. After we had talked, he asked for information too! Before we turned to leave, the men offered to pray for me. We stood, held hands, and prayed over my team and the next year of our lives. Before I left, Pastor Mike wanted me to meet his youth group. I stood in front of a room full of unfamiliar teenagers and told them what I’d be doing. Once again I was met with unbridled encouragement and support! The handful of adults from PPBC standing in the hallway began asking me questions and offering hugs and well wishes. I said goodbye to Pastor Mike and his wife with hugs and promises to stay in touch while I am away. By the time I made it to the door, I had talked to nearly every person in the building! We got in the car and headed to lunch, ecstatic that God had taken an average day-to-day event and turned it into this awe-inspiring blessing.
The night before all of this took place, I had prayed for God to bless the people I would meet over the next year. I prayed that he would bring new people into my life that I could bless. What I didn’t expect was that he would plop me right in the middle of an entire church filled with people prepared to bless me!
God shows me time and time again that it isn’t my job to make the mundane, magnificent. He does that all on his own. My only duty is to be open to his will; turning and running whichever direction he instructs me to run.
Thank you for hearing me again! (P.S. OVER 50% funded WOOO!!! Just $2500 more by August and I’m locked in to launch!!)
