The Call 📞✝️
A New Year and an Old Promise
January 1st and no mortgage payment shows up. I stick to what I know. Obedience “Jesus replied, All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.” John 14:23-24. Disciplines of the faith. Fasting, prayer, Bible reading, walking, serving, declaring, encouraging, waiting.
The Call to Africa
It is a sunny January day in Florida. I am walking and praying when I hear the Lord say to me: “Go to Africa.”
Our conversation went something like this:
God: “Go to Africa.”
Me: “I don’t do missions,”
Him: “You said you would go anywhere, anytime.”
Me: “Fair enough. Africa it is.”
I continued praying telling the Lord that if I heard correctly, I was willing. I had no funds so he would have to make a way.
Immediate Confirmation and Divine Timing
I returned from my walk and went to check my phone. There was a message from my sister confirming that I was “Iam2go” although she had no idea what it meant. I did though.
I got on the computer and began doing some research. The church had a short term mission trip leaving for Africa in less than 30 days. Registration was closed. So when I called and explained that I thought I was supposed to go, they made an exception. The trip leader knew me and welcomed me to the team.
They sent me the link to register for the trip which would also give me a link that I could share with others who wanted to donate toward the cost. There was a $25 registration fee. I did not have that. They made an exception.
Miraculous Provision for the Mission
I prayed about how the Lord was going to fund this. What did he want me to do? He helped me write a letter. I typed it up that same morning. I needed $2500 and quickly. At his instruction, I asked each person for $250 and sent it to the ten people he told me to.
This is how you know it is God. Within 26 hours, there was over $2800 sitting in my account. More would come. Not only did I fund my trip, but the overage helped to cover the expenses for other members whose fundraising was not complete. Thirteen people donated. Did I mention that I sent it to ten people?
Not only was I fully funded. My confidence was growing. Either I could hear from God or I couldn’t.
A Divine Connection
The trip leader called me. One of the participants was having a particularly difficult time fundraising. Would I call her? I could definitely do that.
With no knowledge of who this person was, I picked up the phone with an intention to pray for and encourage her. A lengthy conversation revealed that she did not actually want to go to Africa. She had not actually started her fundraising nor did she want to. She was looking at another trip, a different location that offered a lesser cost and was planning to pay for it herself. She struggled though because she knew that God was calling her to go to Africa. Although she did not want to go or fundraise, she would eventually be obedient to the call.
Inviting Others into the Mission
Missions are an interesting concept. There are many people who would like to go and for whatever reason cannot. The ability to contribute financially is actually a blessing to them as they get to be a part of the trip. It is how they get to participate.
I hate asking people for money. Always have. That in itself, is simply pride. Now I understand that I am not asking for money, but I am inviting them to be a part of what God is doing. Whether they choose to say yes or no will be up to God and up to them. Their response is a reflection of them and their obedience. God’s provision is always abundant when you are following His plan.
A New Friendship and A Missionary’s Journey
What I love about God is how His ways are higher than ours. This person, whom I didn’t know before the trip and who did not want to go to Africa, is now one of my best friends. And is also a missionary… in South Africa. Her family moved there in July 2023 out of obedience to the call on their lives. Look at God!
Trusting God with What’s Left Behind
As this was taking place, the realization of my mortgage being in default was in the back of my mind. Lord, will my house and stuff be intact when I return? Yes, he assured me. “You will be there until your birthday (April).” It was time to stand and believe. Therefore, I chose to go, much like Israel, with no concern, staying focused in the present.
Planting Seeds in South Africa
When we arrived in South Africa, the missionaries on the ground met us at the airport in Cape Town. As I hugged each of them, the lady of the family said to me “We thought you guys forgot about us.” They had been on the ground for a few years and there had been no visits. A seed was planted. She could have said it to anyone. But it resonated in my heart just as God meant it to.