Donald Trump is about to be the 45th president of the United States of America. I don’t think many people saw that coming. What’s even more unbelievable is that this is my third blog this month!! Originally, I thought blogging is what middle-aged women do when they want to anonymously complain about their husbands or share the latest recipe for green bean casserole and use way too many hash tags, all while hiding behind some ridiculous screen name like ‘thismommabakes143’. I’ve learned over the course of the past couple months, however, that is not the case at all. This blog is my way to speak to you, to tell you how God is moving in my life, and a way for me to encourage and speak life into yours. I believe God is always teaching and challenging us everyday, like any good teacher He is always ready to push us and challenge us. The latest example of this happened today actually. On our blogs we like to share our victories, but today I want to share a lesson. One I heard loud and clear.
The story actually starts yesterday. One of the guys on the squad was ill and wasn’t feeling well. After a doctors visit in the morning, his symptoms did not improve, and in fact they intensified to the point he asked us to take him to the ER around 9 p.m. We did, and good thing, because he was running a 104 degree fever. Since his fever was so high the doctors decided to keep him overnight for observation. Since I am a squad leader, I stayed at the hospital with him. Right next door, there was an elderly lady and her family. Every time I left the room I would look in through the glass door at this lady (Thai hospitals apparently don’t believe in privacy because there were windows everywhere). Every time I would walk by, the Lord would tell me to go in and pray for her. EVERY TIME. It was 1 a.m. and I didn’t want to go in there and cause a scene, plus those people probably don’t speak English. I literally came up with every excuse not to go in there. I woke up this morning and the Lord was still challenging me to go in and pray for this elderly lady, who was lying in the bed with family around her. Finally I conceited, sort of, I said, “ok fine God. I’ll pray for her before we leave once we’re discharged.” Knowing I had no intention of doing so unless they came and asked me to.
Later in the morning our ministry host and another one of the guys, Davante, showed up and stayed at the hospital with us. Davante and I went and got lunch and then we came back to the room and then Davante stepped outside. I thought he was going to the bathroom or to call home, but then I heard him talking….in the room next door. Come to find out the Lord had been speaking to Davante too. Only he obeyed. He knew the woman wouldn’t speak English, so instead of using that as an excuse, he waited in the hall for a nurse to walk by so he could get an interpreter. Then once they got in the room, they realized the woman was not Thai; instead she was Burmese and didn’t understand anything the interpreter was saying. Deal breaker right? Nah, Jesus goes before us y’all. The nurse was also a Christian and realizes what’s going on so she calls someone on the phone that can speak Burmese and English. THEN come to find out the older lady who Davante went in to pray for is also Christian!! She’s 95 and doesn’t have much longer on the earth. Davante got to pray for her, and encourage her that there is more. Her life is not over, it’s just about to start. I dropped the ball today, but Davante picked up my slack. The Lord said ‘go’ and I said ‘no’. I learned a valuable lesson today. The Lord doesn’t need me. I am nothing special. Literally, the only thing good about me is the spirit that lives inside. It is not a burden to be serving in Thailand and putting other dreams on hold. It is an HONOR and a PRIVILAGE to get to serve God and today I learned that first hand. If you don’t, someone else will. That shouldn’t give you permission for complacency, but instead motivate you for action. I am listening intently for God to speak to me and when He does you better watch out ‘cause I’m coming. He gone find you and he’s gonna use me to do it! Next time he says ‘go’, I’m going to start walking before I even ask ‘where?’
