twelve days.
It has been twelve days since I left my home in Texas.
4 flights, 1 taxi, 1 uber, 1 bus ride, and 1 very long & cramped car ride later….
It feels like an eternity has passed, but I am finally in San Andres, Colombia with my *team.
While traveling to Colombia my *squad had quite a few delays and setbacks that I won’t go into detail about.
Instead I want to share with you one of the victories that He gave us.
On Wednesday January 11th, 2017 in the early morning, my squad and I arrived at the Ft Lauderdale Florida airport with a planned 12-hour layover. We quickly found our checked bags, and unbeknownst to Gods greater plan, a corner near the baggage claim to camp out…
In the room where we camped out there was a long black curtain stretching across the length of it.
We sat next to it, all 54 of us.
In its presence we rested,
prayed,
and began our journey into the nations.
We did not think much about what was on the other side of it.
On January 7th, 2017 a CNN news report was released with the following:
“Esteban Santiago went to baggage claim and picked up his one piece of checked luggage.
There were no other bags, just a case with a handgun inside.
Santiago allegedly took the 9 mm handgun out of its case and fired at other travelers Friday afternoon, killing five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport. On Saturday, authorities revised the number of wounded to six”
by: Catherine E. Shoichet, Steve Almasy and Ray Sanchez, CNN
Just four days prior to our arrival, the enemy made an attack in the exact same place we sat….
and that long black curtain had veiled the destruction left behind.
Four days’ prior the world wept, and lives were lost for a reason that we may never understand.
But four days later God sent 54 missionaries through the same space.
Making a declaration that death has no power, because it was already defeated on the cross!
We did not realize it until later that day, but His authority surrounded us. He protected us. He has plans for us, and He works all things together for good.
Even when we could not comprehend it or immediately recognize it.
It was a beautiful & heartbreaking moment.
Since that day in the airport, I have constantly been reminded that God has plans much greater than I could ever comprehend. My plans are often so immediate and introspective that I forget to stop and consider the plan that He has orchestrated.
God showed me a black curtain in an airport baggage claim to demonstrate just how powerful He is.
His presence is everywhere if we just look for it.
So my question for you is:
What curtain of protection and purpose has God put up in your life?
I promise it is there. You just have to look for it, and trust Him.
*Squad= the people going to the same countries as me. We typically are together for travel purposes. There are 54 of us.
*Team= Usually teams are 6-7 people, these people come from my squad and go to the same city as me. I live with them, and typically do the same ministry as them.
Teams will change over the next eleven months, but the squad will not.
