Rain beat against my window as I plopped down in my seat on the plane. The stewardess announced in her chirpy voice that the airport had just been shut down due to the sudden storm and that we would be sitting on the plane for a while awaiting takeoff. I leaned my head against the window and watched the rain pound against the side of the plane.
I had just come off a week of intense training camp preparing me for serving as a missionary in the World Race program.The week had been full of crazy adventures with amazing passionate people who were laying it all down to serve God with all their hearts over the course of the next year. It had been filled with God doing some awesome things and doing some pretty intense work within my heart. Now, with this just hours behind me, the devil was already throwing darts of discouragement at me in the area of support raising and meeting my next financial deadline in order to be able to go and serve.
My thoughts were interrupted as a couple took their seats next to me on the plane. In my heart I felt God urging me to tell them about my upcoming year on the mission field overseas. It was if He was saying as plain as day, "these are my people and I want you to tell them about the ministry you are being led into." As we sat on the plane awaiting takeoff, my seat mates and I began to talk. I found out quickly that yes, these really were God's people. In the next two hours sitting on the closed runway I shared where I am being led this next year and they shared their testimony with me. My heart was so encouraged and blessed by these members of the family of God.
As we talked, the pilot's voice boomed on the intercom telling us that we were finally clear for takeoff. As the plane roared down the runaway, I laid my head back against the window and closed my eyes. After a week of insane sleeping arrangements at training camp, my eyes needed to catch up on some zzzzzs.
Five hours into the trip, I awoke. The gentleman who was my seat mate leaned over and asked me if I was raising support for my trip and said that they wanted to support me. I was blown away and a bit speechless. In all that is happening in the world, how is it that God should know the discouragement I had been facing deep in my heart and how was it that He had orchestrated that I should sit next to some of His faithful servants on the plane? How was it that they met the exact discouragement in my heart with encouragement? He used these people who had been strangers to me in order to show His love and faithfulness.
We serve a big God folks!!!! His love and faithfulness are more than I can even fathom. He gave me a loud and clear message that he is in control and that worry and discouragement are from the devil and should not have a foothold. I'm already growing and being stretched and I haven't even left yet!
The family of God is a beautiful thing. I am so thankful and humbled to be a part of such a wonderful thing. I praise God for each of you who are partnering with me in ministry both prayerfully and financially. You bless me beyond all belief.
I am so excited to continue on this path and see what God has in store in the days to come. Thank you all for being a part of the journey.
