A while ago I posted a blog on interruptibility and how God was showing me what it looks like to let Him totally interrupt my day. Now here I am in Northern Africa over a year later, and the Father is continuing to show me what it looks like to be interruptible and stop for the one. Showing me what it looks like to do nothing less than what the Father is telling me. Also what it looks like to do nothing more than what the Father is telling me.
I wanted to share a couple stories of what the Father has done through us just stopping for the one.
A couple days ago I was with a team and we went to the store to buy groceries. Before we left we said a little prayer, I felt God pressing interruptibility on my heart, so that’s what we prayed for, Divine encounters and interruptible hearts. On the way to the store we saw a family sitting in the street. We said “Hello” in a couple different languages as we passed by. Then we knew something was different, one of the family members came over and handed us some fresh herbs. We smiled, thanked them, and continued walking. As we walked away I immediately almost kicked myself in the butt. “God did I just blow it?!” “That was a wide open door to talk to that family!” But when I took a second to listen to what the Father was saying, I knew we would see them again, it wasn’t time yet.
We continue on to the grocery store, get all the things, and realize their produce was not what we wanted. So we decide to go to another store. On the way to that store, we passed by a little bread and tea shop. As we passed by, a couple of the workers in the shop waved at us. I immediately felt like we needed to stop in and talk to them. After we got our groceries, I asked the team if we could go and talk to them, they agreed.
The team immediately connected with the workers and they started to become friends. In the meantime, a couple of gentlemen invited me to sit with them, have some tea, and they also bought be some bread to eat. I continued to have conversations with these men through Google Translate (such an amazing tool!). At first, the conversation was very simple, but then the door God wanted presented itself. We started talking about a local landmark that was named after Abraham. I felt Holy Spirit tell me to talk about Abraham. They just finished celebrating the festival of Eid the day before. Eid is the celebration of the story of Abraham, how God told him to sacrifice his son, and how God provided a ram instead when Abraham was tested (Eid is like the Arab worlds Christmas).
I asked them if they knew the story of Abraham. One only heard the story as a child and the other didn’t know it. I asked if I could share this story with them, they said yes! One of the men spoke French and the other only spoke Arabic. I translated the whole story in French. I watched as this man read and understood the story of Abraham for the first time, for maybe the first time he heard how God wants to provide for us. Not only that, but then he was TELLING the story for the first time as he translated it into Arabic for his friend!!
Meanwhile the girls had made such good friends with the shop owners that they invited us back the next morming to bake fresh bread with them!
We started back towards the house and made sure we walked past where that family was we met that morning. We also picked up some tea biscuits to give to them as a gift for the herbs they gave us earlier.
Sure enough, they were there! I got the biscuits out and gave them to the family, and they immediately invited us in for tea! Tea led to lunch and a whole afternoon of being with this family and hearing their stories. Then we got invited to cook and eat dinner with them a couple days later!
We left that morning only seeking to get groceries, but also with interruptible hearts. We went to bed that night with new friends, several plans to be with them, and an awe of how the Father can use such little things to show Himself through us.
God is continually showing me that it’s always worth it to stop for the one. These stories aren’t finished yet with these local people, I can’t wait to see what He has in store.
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it? – Luke 15:4
*Announcements, Prayer Requests and Needs*
First and most importantly, I need more prayer warriors! There have been countless times this year and a half where I could feel the community praying for us interceding on our behalf. The Lord has opened doors that could have never been possible without your prayers and also those prayers have protected us in some dangerous situations. If you would add me to your prayer list, I would be forever honored for you to partner with me. Your prayers change things!
Prayer requests right now:
-Continued boldness into what the Lord calls me to do
-Steadfastness as the Lord shows me how to lay myself down for M Squad
-Unityand Joy for the Squad!
-Provision for this next season
-A heart to pour into all the cultures we will be in this year
-Vision for the future
Secondly, I’m fundraising again! I’m currently about 52% funded out of my $6500 total I need to raise. Those donations can be made on this page and are tax deductible!
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I’m always so overwhelmed by your prayers, messages, and generosity! Love you all!
