My daughter, Holly, has always had the “travelers bug”. She loves to travel, like her momma, and wants to do more. A few months ago Holly mentioned that she wants to go on a mission trip. Our church offers many wonderful opportunities to go on mission trips, but it seemed that every time our youth were going on a trip, we were going to be out of town.
Out-of-town we are. Praise God that we are afforded the blessings to thoroughly enjoy our summer as a family. So finding a solid week to actually go on a mission trip with Holly was slim to none. I’ve been praying about where to go, but I wasn’t really turning it all over to God. I’d tell God about how excited I was that Holly wanted to go on a mission trip and thank Him for her desire. But I didn’t actually “ask” Him where He wanted to send her (and myself).
This weekend our church was/is hosting a Mission Conference. Earlier in the week, Tim said we need to pray about how much of a donation we want to commit for missions. This donation was going to include mine and Holly’s trip also. We wanted to have a plan in place by the weekend’s end.
So, last week I had put out a couple of “feelers” to people I know who would possibly have a “less-than-a-week” mission opportunity for us. My friend’s mom has transplanted her and her husband’s life to Honduras to run an orphanage and dig wells. (I think that is what they do.) God has given them the heart and abilities to be international missionaries. Nicole and I briefly talked about Holly and I going for about five days to help serve in any capacity across the waters.
Then, I sent a message to my sister-in-law’s sister about us going to Alabama to help in any missions that her and her pastor/husband’s church may do in the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama area. I thought that keeping it in-states may be a good choice for a short mission trip. I haven’t heard from Pam yet. But God had a plan already in place and possibly avoided her from replying until He revealed His plan to us.
Finally, since my church is hosting a Mission Conference, one of our own former church members who moved to New York to help grow a church there (The Gallery Church ) was in town. I chatted with Jessica about the prospect of us helping there in NY for a few days. (New York! Really? What teenage girl wouldn’t like a mission trip to New York?) She believed that there was an opportunity for the days we could serve, but said to check with her next week when she is back in NY and she’ll check the calendar.
When I came home, after speaking with Jessica, I told Holly, “Ok, you need to really pray about where God wants to send you.” I did the same. It was time to get real with God and FINALLY ask Him where.
Okay, then it was as if God replied, “I’ve been waiting on you to ask Me! Here’s where you are going.”
After finally specifically praying about a destination, I went to be a hostess at a dinner our church was having for the Mission Conference. God placed me (I believe) to sit with some precious friends, Paige and Mark. Paige was asking about my kids and I mentioned the mission trip thing to them. When I gave the dates that we could go somewhere, Mark said, “Well, I think that is when Will and Amber (our friends) are going for about five days to Alabama.” What?!! Where have I been? Every time I saw mission opportunities posted in our church bulletin, I only saw week long trips.
So, I proceeded to seek out Will and Amber and probe them about the trip. Yes! I was going to work! I told them that I would go home and share this with Holly and pray about it. But, in my heart God was saying, “This is it!”
I came home, after hearing a couple of wonderful people speak about their missions (more to come later on those), and told Holly what had happened. I honestly thought that she would be bummed because “I” thought she’d want to go on an international trip, but her eyes lit up, she smiled a big smile, and said “Yes!”
“God, You are so cool!!! I know I tell you this often, but You are awesome!”
He had a plan. Holly had a desire. I always have that desire J. God wanted us to ask. We did. He replied, and quickly.
Oh, get this….the trip is going to cost a fraction of what we were willing to pay to go on other trips. So guess what? God is allowing me and Tim to commit more to our church’s mission fund. Praise God!
Be specific in your prayers. Seek God’s will for your life.
Blessings to you.
