[written 10/25]
It feels like I’ve been here forever. Getting to Puerto
Barrios seems like forever ago, and spending time with Team Brady and Team
Hineni has been an absolute blast. I’m sad to leave tonight…especially because
I’m going to miss the wedding.
Don’t worry it no Racers are getting married.
Eddie and Miriam, two of the young people that work with the
ministry here, got married (legally) a few months ago. However, because
these two were unable to afford a traditional “church wedding” they’re families
and the community still do not see them as wed. Their story and their
friendship have truly blessed both of the WR teams here, which is why they have
decided to raise some Quetzales, pull on their wedding planning pantalones, and
throw them a good old fashioned Guatemalan wedding!!!
The house was buzzing today as everyone began making plans.
Even on their day off, the World Race teams are hard at work ordering cakes,
shopping for wedding dresses, and planning the service. And its absolutely
incredible how everything seems to be coming together so perfectly. Especially
with the rings.
About a week ago, we were talking with our contact about the
ceremony. We were talking about prices and what would be needed. When someone
mentioned the rings, I think everyone got a little nervous. The rings would
probably be one of the most expensive items. Out of nowhere Addie says, “Hey I
have a ring I can give Mirriam. I don’t even wear rings but I brought this one
with me on the Race. It has a scripture verse on it too. Any chance anyone has
a guy’s ring?” I looked at the guys for a second then I saw it: the ring on my
thumb. I’d had it for a few years and though it looked silly on my thumb, I
wore it there because it’s too big to fit any other finger. Why? Because it’s a
MAN’S RING.
Ok pause. Let me explain why I had a man’s ring…I had found
the ring a few years ago at work and after failing to find the owner, my boss
was just going to throw it out. I thought it was really neat looking so she
said I could have it. It was then that I saw it was a James Avery ring (a
jeweler in the South) so I looked up what it had inscribed in Hebrew on it: “I
am my Beloved’s and He is mine.” So cool. But it was standing there smack dab
in the middle of a wedding-planning meeting in Guatemala that I remembered
something else: it was sold as a MAN’S WEDDING RING.
the ring i had for eddie
Today Addie and I were chatting after breakfast when Eddie
came in. Addie was telling him that the ring she had fit Mirriam perfectly.
“That’s so awesome!” I thought. Excited I pulled out the man’s ring I had and
handed it to Eddie. I was worried that he might not like it but I was
especially nervous about the fit. He slipped it on his finger, and sure enough,
IT FIT! He proceeded to ask “quanto?” (how much?) over and over and it took
Addie about 10 mintues to get across to him that it was a gift, just from me to
him. We explained that God gave both of us those rings specifically for them.
As Addie continued to explain to him the rings were free of
charge, she looked up at me with a huge grin. As I looked down at what she had
been playing with I realized why she was so excited. The two rings we had lying
on the table, the rings we had given Mirriam and Eddie, had fit perfectly
inside each other, her ring slipping perfectly inside of his, the two becoming
one. How perfect!
The conversation carried on for a few more minutes and as I
sat there watching the 2 of them chat my mouth feel open. I just sat there
dumbstruck. I had been here before. Having this conversation. With these 2
people. But I hadn’t known them the last time. I racked my brain for a second
before realizing that over a year ago, on my first World Race, I had had a
vision of this very conversation. And now it was actually playing out before
me.
The Lord orchestrated so many little (and big) things to
bring this man and this woman together. Ever since before they were even
created He had their wedding planned out. Even before Addie or I had met either
one of them, we had been entrusted with their rings. Before Michael packed his
blue button-down shirt , the Lord knew he’d throw it in his pack to take on the
World Race, and that Eddie would commit his life to his bride before the Lord
wearing it. Before I even knew what “squad leading” meant, God knew not only that
I’d be with this squad, but I’d be with this team this month at this time. And
even before I knew anything about what prophecy was, as I began asking the Lord
for dreams and visions, He answered my prayer in a way I didn’t understand. But
today it’s all clicking together. And today I can wholeheartedly worship God
for revealing yet another piece of His identity to me: the Ultimate Wedding
Planner.
Thanks for all the prayers and support! Only $3500 more
to go!!!
