I made a quick trip to Nicaragua last week (and by quick I mean Friday through Friday) sliding right under the wire before I had to send my passport off to get my visa for China!! The most outstanding feature of the trip was things coming full circle and seeing Answers to things I'd requested from Father.
The full circle part came as I watched the children who came along with the trip relate to the kids we share with in Nicaragua. It was amazing to see how many fewer barriers children have. After two hours, it was no longer "the Nicaraguan kids" it was "my friend Carlos, my friend Cheila, etc." I remember being at that stage, when nationalities and languages didn't matter so much, just being together did. It was awesome to have an impact on kids and be able to encourage them in this step of their life, not even knowing all the things He will do with this experience in their lives.
The answer part happened in so many cool ways. I got to translate for a really cool provision moment. Someone had donated a computer to give to a college student, and the team had requested permission and decided to give it to this amazing girl who also has a younger brother in college, studying computer science (which we had forgotten). Their parents are farmers, earning about two dollars a day, enough to provide food and clothing, but not enough to buy a computer. So they asked Father for one. So three of us from the team plus the daughter loaded up in a moto taxi and went to deliver the computer. Her mom had just gotten home from work, and the daughter had the computer wrapped in some plastic bags. We went in and started visiting, and in the course of the conversation the mom started saying how they were asking Him for a computer, needing one for her son (not knowing the answer was sitting on the table at that moment.) Rosaura the daughter started unwrapping the computer calmly, casually, and said, Look mom! The mom started crying, (as did I, I couldn't help it!) and it was even better than being on Secret Millionaire or Undercover Boss on TV!! I had personally been asking Father for someone to keep sponsoring the guy I've been sponsoring the last five years as he's in college, and the last day one of the families told me they were planning to do that! What an answer!!
I'm in such an amazing spot right now. Seeing so many amazing answers, so much provision on every side, both in Nicaragua and in things coming together for China. I'm storing up these answers and clear provisions in my heart so that when the hard times come again (they always do) I can trust in past provision and have the grace to continue to know that He will always provide all our needs, just like the generous Father that He is!!!
