When we saw the Thanksgiving trip announced on Family Missions Company's website, we just knew that God wanted us back in Mexico for Thanksgiving. So, we began saving and fundraising for about four months. Even with all the generous people we encountered, we fell short about $1000 in the final two weeks before the trip. Thinking that it was just our "flesh" wanting to be back on a mission not really God calling us back, we decided not to go on this trip.
After seeing the disappointment in the kids' faces and listening to them constantly tell us that God wanted us back in Mexico for Thanksgiving, we went back to prayer and asked God to make this happen if it be His will. God has a way of making His will known if you just ask. Within hours we had $500 literally fall into our hands. Within a few days, we had the other $500. I was in total awe. The kids were right! God did want us back in Mexico for Thanksgiving, and I couldn't wait to see why!
As we began to prepare for the trip that final week, other expenses began to come up. But with each one, God sent someone our way to take care of it almost immediately. The missionaries sent a list out of items that were needed by some of the local people in Mexico. I really wanted to be able to bring some of these items, but we were on an extremely tight budget. I made a plea on Facebook for the items: medicines, toothpastes & toothbrushes, diapers, & eyeglasses. I had several friends and family members offer to donate most of the items listed.
But as we gathered them, I noticed that we had not collected any eyeglasses. I really felt as if I needed to bring eyeglasses. Something kept weighing on my heart to bring eye glasses. I decided that I would purchase a few pairs of "cheaters" when I went to buy a few things that we needed to pack for ourselves. Just before heading out the door, a man that we had met at our garage sale knocked on our door and handed me some money for our trip. Eye glass money! I was able to purchase quite a few pairs of the nicer "cheater" glasses when I went to the store later that day.
We were also asked to purchase the Thanksgiving Day hams and some coffee for the mission house. I once again began counting all our money trying to figure out how to pay for these items. I received a message the next day from a friend who wanted to donate to our trip. I picked up his check on the way to the store to buy the hams and coffee. His donation was almost the exact amount of the cost of the hams and coffee. God had once again provided for our needs.
As we prepared to leave, I sat in awe of what all had transpired in the last two weeks. God had proven to me that He is in control and that He will provide for all our needs. This wasn't just about this Thanksgiving trip, but about my fears of being full time missionaries. So many times lately I have worried about not having an income and having to depend solely on donations for all our needs. This was God's way of calming my fears for our future life as full time missionaries and letting me know that He will take care of all our needs. This was His way of saying once again, "Stop worrying, I got this!"
Matthew 6: 25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Thanksgiving Mission Trip, Part 2
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