August 2010
It was an unusually hot and humid summer day in St. Charles. This is saying quite a lot as summer in St. Charles is defined by humidity. Tiffany and I sat at the glass table next to my grandparent’s pool and began to melt candles down wine bottles. I wasn’t sure if my idea was flawed, as the wine bottle was quite small in comparison with how much it costs to get to China, but it was a start.
2010 was a summer of radical change in my heart. I had finally encountered the international heart of Christ, rather than reading about it in books or magazine articles. It was addicting! I wasn’t sure when or how, but I knew I had to get back overseas, and my prayers were that such a journey would include China. I wanted to go back to where it all began. Where this heart was awakened.
So, a piggy bank, in the form of a decorated wine bottle would begin the beginning deposit. It began to fail instantly as I realized the difference in size of the U.S. currency in comparison with the size of the neck of the wine bottle. Dimes were the only coin that would fit, and it would take A LOT of dimes to get back to china! Approximately 14,000. China quickly began to feel about as far away as the moon. Yet, I still had two years of college to finish, that is two years of dime, who knows what could happen! So, I finished decorating my jar, and made a promise to God that every dime would be towards me getting back to China.
August 2013
I begin packing up my belonging to store away for a year. Somehow the months between being accepted for the World Race and actually leaving have flown by. After the garage sale there was not too much left in my room, yet somehow it still felt like way too much. My guitar sits waiting for our last quite time with God before I must leave it behind. My film camera supplies and leftover film stare me down begging to join the adventure, and the many photos and world maps that cover the walls wait patiently to be tucked away.
It has all been packed; all but one thing.
Sitting on top of the wood bookshelf I made with my grandfather sits that wine bottle. It has accumulated a bit of dust, a few fake flowers I bought at a recycling shop, and some of the crayons have chipped off, but what it holds has not changed. Within it is a wealth of my heart. The money itself does not add up to much, but the promise does. In making the promise to return, God promised he would provide!
I have said many goodbyes, and I am now on a bus that will take me to Atlanta and connect me with the rest of my squad. We will then catch a flight to China. Yes China! The wine bottle sits in a tote in a cold basement and its contents have been emptied to the bank, but the promise is still holding strong.
Daughter, I will provide.
What promises have you made with God lately? What promises has he made to you? Do you trust in his provision? Have you fulfilled your promises?
Update:
I am officially in ATL at the hotel, and sitting in the lobby waiting for some U squad family to walk in.
