She too was once an orphan from the same country in which we are headed, and she most likely would never have known her God given purpose there. Where we are headed Wikipedia.org states that 62.5% are not affiliated or not aware of religion of any kind. That's not to say this is 100% accurate, but let's compare it to our own country. In the United States, 76% are Christians according to this same site. While 76% doesn't thrill me, it's a better than this:
Orthodoxy (26.8%)Catholicism (5.9%)
Protestantism (0.9%)
God sought out this young lady, called her to go on a missions trip that He paid for, then gave her excess to share with us. That donation lies in my purse right now.
In my feebleness yesterday and today, I began to feel something that felt like knots in my stomach. I thought I had caught a stomach bug at first, but I didn't feel sick at all. I could go on with my day and everything, only there was this aching pain in my stomach every 5 minutes or so. It truly felt like a knot tightening. Chris looked it up to learn that one gets it from anxiety. I'm not one to worry, so I don't have much experience with anxiety. But, looking at how close we are to traveling (we leave May 4, which is 3 weeks and 1 day away), I was feeling such anxiety over what we lacked - money.
Then the couple that we met with on Sunday sent me an email reminding me of the feeding of the 5000. I'll copy it here:
Matthew 14:13-21The Message (MSG)
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
When I first read this, I was immediately encouraged. God was reminding me to take what I do have and work with it. Give it to Him. He'll bless it. And, when we've handed out all of the funds, we'll look and see that there is more leftover. It's written that He takes care of the sparrow, so how much more will he take care of us.
After I read this email, the knots and tightening in my stomach very slowly began to lessen. It's midnight now, and I haven't had a knot in a couple of hours. I sat to check my overfilled inbox, and I remembered a donation sitting in my purse. It was another whisper from God, reminding me that He's in this, and He'll provide. As for me, I need to expect Him to provide more than enough.
2 Corinthians 9 says,
8 And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. 9 As the scripture says,
“He gives generously to the needy;
his kindness lasts forever.”
The young lady who gave us this donation may not have known her purpose in life had she not been adopted, but God did not leave her as an orphan. He came to her, and today we got to experience her ministry, her purpose. Today, she was the whisper of God reminding us that God is in our journey, knows our stumbles even before we make them, and is there to gently remind us that He is our provider. He's the God of more than enough for every good cause.
I've had so many ask how we intend to get the money. But, I should back up and tell you that when we began this journey, we needed $50,000. With 4 kids and 1 income, along with fostering 3 children earlier this year with no financial help from the state, we started this journey with nothing to pay for the many adoption expenses. We just knew God's call, and we took one step at a time just like we are taking one step right now. The amazing thing is that many of you have decided to join us on this journey and walk it with us one step at a time. And, we're getting there, guys! Yesterday morning we still needed $36,000, but right now, we need $31,000. We have a matching grant, and people have been giving $5 here and $10 there...which doubles with the matching grant! These donations are being matched. And, you know what?! We're getting there....together.
Thank you to everyone who has become Jesus' hands and feet...and backbone. Because yesterday and today, I needed you. And, you were there holding me up when I just couldn't see the light. Now, let's keep it up until...one step at a time... we get these kids home and remove 5 orphans from the statistics.