Providence

I know I was going to tell of this story a little while ago and it never happened. I’m sorry about the service being lost and never getting to share this story! But I am sharing it now and it is such a wonderful testimony of how God works in the midst of our troubles and trials. It also showcases just how good He is at answering the prayers prayed over us before we left for Jamaica.

Here goes:

When we left for Jamaica and sent our bags through, one bag did not get labeled with a name and address. Lesson 1 learned: make sure everyone has their bag labeled to prevent someone else from taking it off the carousel.

When we arrived in Montego Bay, all our bags made it to Jamaica, but two were taken. We then got to spend about an hour trying to file a claim. Not the greatest way to enter into a new country. These bags had prayed over for safe travel, along with all of us, to make it to Jamaica. Well, they made it, but not to their intended destination.

That evening was sent in patient silence asking God to bring our bags back. Both included donations for the trip, and one had all of our plateware and utensils for the trip. We kind of needed to get those bags back.

In the morning, our devotionals asked us to read Proverbs 3:5-6, which goes: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

This was a morning where I had to trust God to have good purposes for those bags and just allow Him to handle the whole situation. In that moment of simple trust I found strength for the day and let the chips fall where they may.

It just so happens, that is all God was asking of me. Moments later, I received a phone call that one of the bags would be dropped off at the front desk that morning! God provides!

Bag #2 is a little bit more exciting! Waiting for our ride to show up, one of our youth, Ethan, made a comment to Rachel, who had lost her unlabeled bag (yup, I’m not giving it up!), that a bag over with another girl looked a lot like her bag. When she looked over, she was a little surprised and agreed. So, she went over to this other girl and asked her about her bag. And whose bag did it end up being? Rachel’s!

It turns out that the girl who grabbed Rachel’s bag was on her way back to the airport to turn in the bag and hopefully get her correct bag. However, her ride to the airport was running late. Coincidence?  I think not! Talk about God’s providing for us when we are forced to trust Him! God works in powerful ways!

Transformation

"It wasn't supposed to go that way..."

Ever thought that? I know I definitely had that thought a couple of times this past week! To start - I was supposed to have cell reception in Catadupa so I could update everyone as the week progressed along. That didn't happen. As soon as we left Montego Bay, my phone quit.

"It wasn't supposed to go that way..."

But, as it turns out sometimes it is just what doesn't go our way that God uses for His good work in us.

As we prepared for our time in Catadupa, we focused a lot on the transformation that occurs as we seek Jesus. Our hearts are enlarged and changed and made more into the likeness of Him. As I reflect on our past week in Jamaica, I know I had the thought that transformation would happen, but it would be when I was in Jamaica. It's not to say that transformation didn't occur, but I was banking on the majority of it to be then and not any other time.

I think this might have been the case with some of the youth who went along as well.

Today, as I was thinking about what God has done in my heart, I was reminded of Jesus' words from Luke 17:5-6:

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

What the disciples wanted was their faith to grow - which isn't bad - but what Jesus shows them is they were missing what they already had! He was letting them know that the faith they had was already sufficient enough to do mighty things.

Isn't is surprising how we can miss this? We keep looking for what we already have. This past week, I was looking for transformation and the evidence of it. I did see it, but I also saw that it had a foundation already started that allowed for that evidence to be showcased. It took time for that transformation to make itself visible.

I think for a lot of us we were looking for the evidence and wanted to see development in an instantaneous way. What God was showing me was transformation has already taken place. All the months leading up to the trip and the work we did in our small groups helped lay that foundation in order for that faith to mold and increase. God did mighty things through us but only because we sought God prior in relationship with Him and one another.

I am so excited for all the ways that our relationship with God will continue to shine forth His goodness as we seek Him. Transformation continually happens in our hearts in relationship, and what has happened this past week is only the beginning to the mighty things He has in store for our futures. To Him be all the glory!

Arrival

We have arrived! What a trip we've been on already! While all the flights went tremendously well, it did take a little while to get to the hotel. But we're here now; we're all safe; and we're resting tonight. With all the trials and frustrations today, it is exactly God's timing thathat I heard the words of Proverbs 3:5-6. Trusting Him for this whole trip will be our strength. Tonight, we're going to enjoy this place and trust God for our start tomorrow in Catadupa. Thanks for all the prayers family! Brandon