*(This is follow-up to a blog I wrote a couple weeks ago – to read Part I of this
story, click on A Jog to Remember…
On
the morning of February 29th, I went running and I usually run
around Tom and Cindy’s house on the mountain for awhile before heading down to
the ocean and running along the path.
But today God told me to walk immediately down to the ocean because the
ladies would be there. To be honest, I
didn’t know if they would be. I had my
doubts and began to think that I had made those thoughts up. I got down there and didn’t see them
anywhere. They weren’t where I saw them
last time. I didn’t see them cleaning up
on the ocean, so I was bummed. God told
me to walk along the path; to keep going where I usually run, but this time
just walk with Me. So I kept walking and
I saw no one, no ladies, no friends, but I started to enjoy the view around me
once again and as I approached the last bench and looked up, there sat two of
the ladies with their bright yellow vests.
I couldn’t believe it, yet I did because God works in His own wonderful
ways. I was so excited to see them and
when I came around so they could see me, they had big smiles and were thrilled
to see me as well. I started talking and
asking how they were doing. I told them
I had been praying for them and hoping to see them again.
As I continued asking about
them and their families, I found out that their names were Elzitra and
Cornelia. Cornelia has two children in
their early 20’s living at home and Elzitra has two twin daughters named Amy and
Abby. At first I didn’t understand when
she said the name Abby and then she explained, with a smile, that it’s like
Abigail in the Bible. Elzitra continued
to tell me that on Sunday a guy had come down by the beach where they were
working and said he thinks he may have permanent jobs for them! She told him that a lady (me) had come by
earlier that week and prayed for someone to offer them permanent jobs. They were so excited to tell me that prayers
work. To be honest, I was a little
surprised. I knew God could do it, I
knew He would…but I guess I put a time limit on Him. I didn’t think God would work that fast, but
He did! And He does! He works in His perfect timing.
The two ladies were anxious
for me to head over to the other side of the beach to find the other three that
were there working that day. Only five
of them were able to make it that day. Before
I left, they laughed as I asked if I could get their picture but kindly allowed
me to take it. As I left, I put my hand
on each of their shoulders and walked down the path along the ocean to the
other side where I found the other three of them picking up trash in the
grass. They immediately smiled and said
hi when they saw me coming. They stopped
what they were doing and stood in a circle around me. I asked how they were doing and the response
was good. I didn’t get far before one of
the ladies asked if I could pray for them again. She was anxious and excited to have me pray
again. She told the others to hold hands
in the circle so I could pray over them.
Before I started to pray, I asked for their names; Charlene (the one who
asked me to pray), Natasha, and Beatrice were their names. After praying, I talked to them just a short
while and then gave them hugs as they returned to their work. As I waved good-bye, I wondered if I would
ever see them again…either way, God has them in His hands.
I’m learning what power
there really is in prayer. I learned
this in a big way in China,
but it’s so easy to forget so God gently reminds me with the little everyday
prayers He answers. Now that’s HUGE! We were chosen with a plan by God with a purpose to do His will that we may bring glory to His name! How exciting is that??
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.” ~Eph.1:11-12
*We are currently in
Manzini, Swaziland after renting a car and taking a little road trip from Cape
Town to Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa, where we spent a week at a conference
continuing to build relationships with several groups of people we had met in
Gordon’s Bay where we stayed for the month.
Check out a little clip from our road trip on Renee’s website.
*We have an additional
member added to our squad as of a few days ago.
Welcome Tracey (we call her Tray-day!) to our squad. She is joining team Ignite for the rest of
the race. You can view her blog and welcome her at: http://traceycaufield.theworldrace.org/. I’m so excited to have her join us – she’s an amazing woman of God!
*Team 7/11 has been doing
ministry in Mozambique
the whole past month. They have raised
money to build a new orphanage and would like to stay located there until the project
is done which could potentially be June.
If this is the case, they will not be joining our flight to Central America, but will most likely join us near the
end of the race. This decision is not final so we will see what God does!
