God works in funny ways sometimes.
These are 2 interesting experiences that happened to me in the same
week.
1st Experience:
As soon as I got back from Africa, I
spent about 10 days in the mountains of Tennessee. I worked as a
trainer to support the squad leaders of the amazing X squad. I love
everything that the World Race stands for, and I love watching people
get set free, from baggage they have been carrying for so long.
After most of my duties had been done,
I decided to go for a drive. I was getting major cabin fever, and
needed to get away for a while. Heather Reed accompanied me to the
main “town”. It was more like a sidewalk with a couple of shops
on each side….super tiny little town. Anyway I love Christmas, so
we decided to stop in the “Christmas is Here” store. The woman
who owned it was so nice and kind. We talked for a long time. It was
obvious through our conversation that she was a believer. So I told
her that Heather and I were missionaries. We started talking about
Thailand, and she said that she had been there in the 70’s. She said
that she could see bombings from the airplane, taking place because
of the war happening in Vietnam. I told her how I had gone to Vietnam
and how I had visited the war museum and gone through the Cuchi
Tunnels. She told me her first husband had been killed in the Vietnam
War. So interesting to be in Vietnam in person, and wonder what the
war must have been like. Even from the pictures it seemed so
terrible. Then to be able to talk with someone who experienced it
first hand. Her second husband looks just like Santa Clause! He is
the real deal : ) It turns out he was Santa Clause for the White
House for 20 years! That’s how legit he is. They took our information
and said that they would be holding us up in prayer. I love how God
works and how He turns a boring day into something worthwhile and
interesting.
2nd Experience:
I was traveling home, finally after 4
and a half months!!! I thought what could possibly go wrong traveling
from Tennessee to Florida. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away
right? I go to the airport, which is an hour and a half away, with
Dan Snyder and Bill Bush. We got there at about 8am, and I was hoping
to get on an earlier flight, since my flight wasn’t until 1:30pm.
Well, they wouldn’t let me because I had to check my bag. So I wait
in the airport for hours. Then I get on my flight to Atlanta and
everything goes smoothly. I wait 2 hours for the next one. We get on,
and take off. I fall asleep because I had been up since 5 am. Next
thing I know we are landing, but surprise, we aren’t landing in
Orlando. We are landing back in Atlanta!! The cabin pressure stopped
working so we had to fly back cruising at only 8,000 feet. Needless
to say, you could feel every bump and dip, and people were freaking
out!! What an awful feeling, to live in so much fear. The lady in
front of me was even crying. We land at the time I should have been
in Florida. I was bummed because I was dying to see my family, and I
was so tired! I just kept praying and trusting that God had a reason
for this. We had to wait for a new plane, but I didn’t have a cell
phone to contact my family. So I went to the help desk, and not only
got to call my sister but they put me on the next flight out. 2 hours
later, the next flight arrived. I switched with an elderly man,
because I was sitting with his family, but he was separated from
them. I sit next to this young, married couple and we start talking.
I mention that I just came home from Africa and I start talking about
the World Race. To my surprise, they had heard of it before! In fact,
one of their friends is on the field right now. As soon as we started
talking about it, it all made sense to me why God had put me through
all this trouble. This couple was supposed to go on the race, and I
was their confirmation. They seem to get the same feeling. God sure
does love His kids…so much, that He would flip all of my travel
plans upside down, just to show them how much He cares! 11 pm rolled
around and I finally made it home. The plane that I was supposed to
be on, wasn’t landing until midnight! Thank you God for putting me on
another flight. The only thing was, my bag was on that plane….oh
well, I got to my family safe and sound and my bag arrived the next
morning : )
