Blown away by His provision

I cannot believe I am sitting in the airport waiting to go to Côte d’Ivoire with my 3 teammates! This past year has been such a great learning and growing year for me as I waited (trying to be patient) for the call that the Lord has given me. Now that I am here, on my way there, I am finding it really hard to believe that the wait is over. God has been so faithful in every way. He has taught me more about trusting him for every need; trusting his provision, trusting his timing, his wisdom and even trusting him to teach what I need when I need it.

I graduated from college in May of 2011. At that time I thought I would live in my hometown for a total of 4 months, maybe 8 or 9 max. Haha! My timing was not God’s timing. Looking back at my year and 4 months in my hometown, I can see that God’s plan was way way better! I was planning to get a great job and earn what I needed there. God had me do a volunteer job instead with small jobs on the side. It was such a blessing to serve him there and watch him provide for my every need instead. His plan was what I needed, not mine. He provided some amazing friends there also, people I will dearly miss. People, that through His grace and healing, I actually let into my life. I am thankful for the pain of loss I feel now in leaving my friends and family. It shows me that I actually have allowed myself to love them.

Looking back, I can see how amazing my Lord has been to me. He has healed me in so many ways, freed me from so many things and kept me from falling in so many ways. I am thankful for his everlasting steadfast love. So thankful that he is not done with me yet though too!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Looking forward, I have no delusions that this is going to be easy. In fact it will probably be one of the hardest things I have ever done (if not the hardest).  Yet, I trust my God. He has told me to do this. He knows the plans he has for me, even though I really don’t. His love is steadfast and perfect and so I trust him. I trust him with my very breath, even though I tend to hold on to my delusion of control often. I know that any hardship I go through will only teach me to trust him more and place more of my hope in him. So please don’t expect all of my blogs to be sunshiny and happy, but do expect to hear about God’s amazing grace in this broken and terrible world.

P.S. I am actually posting this from Abidjan though it written in transit (internet in the airports cost too much) but I am too tired to write about my really long day here. God is good, we are here and safe! Also the last time I checked (Tuesday) I only had 76% of my monthly financial need met. Check out my about page to see how you can help, if the Lord so leads you.

Coming soon...
What is it like in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire? Who is on the team I will be working with? and what will I be doing for the next couple of months?