My God is the God Who Provides

This is the first time I have really had time to sit down alone and think about the whirlwind of today. In order to explain, we must back up to about a month ago, give or take. It was announced in church one day that Noonday will be starting a church in Cancun. I knew I wanted to go, but looking back I am not entirely sure why I wanted to go. Even though I wanted to go, I still think I wanted to go to Africa more. I talked to Henry and it was decided that I was going to Cancun. Soon after, Africa plans fell through, the possibility of plans for a Haiti trip fell through, and my heart for this Cancun trip just grew and grew.

Last weekend I found out that the trip is in September. I start teaching in the school in the fall and am taking 18 hours of classes. I really didn't see how it would be possible to miss that much school and didn't think I could make up my placement (that's what it's called when you're "placed" in the classroom). I just sat on the phone with her and cried and cried and cried. God had put this trip on my heart so much since the first time I heard about it and now He was taking it away, just like Africa and Haiti. I was heartbroken and discouragement really took hold of me. The next few days were really hard because I felt like that's all that consumed my mind. I eventually came to the point where I had to just acknowledge that God was going to put me where He needed me and allow His truth to replace my discouragement.

I decided that it would be a good idea to just talk to my advisor, Dr. Mas, about the situation and see what could be worked out. So today I did just that. She said that there are always a couple students who miss a week because they get married and go on their honeymoon or go on a trip or something and that teachers are flexible for such things. The only issue would be making up my placement. We played around with some ideas for a few minutes, and then she realized that I can just stay in the school for an extra week at the end of the semester and make up my days. My eyes just welled up with tears and I really wanted to just do a dance all around her office and jump up and down and hug her. I restrained myself though.

When I called my mom tonight, she was totally on board. It's official. I will be going back to Mexico in September.

But it gets better. Daddy called me tonight and told me that he had a cool story for me. Apparently he has been meeting with our pastor, the guy in charge of the Mexico trip, and his friend on Tuesday mornings and doing a Bible study. Today the study focused on when God opens doors just to close them. My dad brought me up and what I had been experiencing and told them how upset I was about not being able to go to Mexico. Daddy said he just really prayed about it for me this morning. The best part is that I didn't tell either one of my parents that I was talking to Dr. Mas today. So when my dad got home, the first thing my mom told him was that I was going to Mexico.

I feel like my heart is just about to burst with joy! I have continually be brought to tears today in utter amazement of the way the Lord is working. It amazes me that He took something I was somewhat apathetic about and turned it into a burning passion. My biggest prayer through the past few weeks has been that I would have a discerning heart to listen to what He is saying to me and to go where he says to go. My God truly is the God who provides!!

this is from my sweet friend Lindsey...

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -Romans 10:14-15