Thankful for the overwhelming generosity of God's people!
I always marvel at the specific way and perfect timing of God's provision.
We had our consultation at Passport Heath in Prov. scheduled for last Thursday and they called to postpone because of snow.
The person who rescheduled it to Monday 3/9 said it was up to us if we wanted to also get all the shots right then in there. So we prayed and asked the Lord, to provide what we needed, when we needed it and thanked him that we had the $95 for the consultation.
That morning I got this from a concerned friend:
I am going to get all organic on you and present to you the idea of not getting all your shots on the same day. I know it would mean more hassle, but it is super hard on the lymph system to try to process all that at once. ...just a thought/prayer. (Watched someone die from cancer initiated by the barrage on her system from travel shots.) I love you guys!
Well, I saw the wisdom in her advice and saw God's hand in postponing our appointment and was glad we did not yet have any money to pay for the shots, so there was not a chance that we could run ahead of Him.
Later, that day, I went to our PO Box and we had an unexpected gift which was not only large, but huge b/c it's timing is right after we rescheduled and heard from Carin... and it was only enough to pay for "some" of our immunizations.
Anyone going to South Sudan has to get Yellow Fever... they won't let you travel there with out that vaccine. That alone for the 3 of us is over $500. I don't suppose there is a buy 2 get one free deal ;)
We have to get Hep B immediately as the booster is a month later before we leave... so as far as I can see the gift that was sent is exactly what we need for those 2 essential ones... no more or no less!!
Then we can schedule the others: Typhoid & Hep A in subsequent weeks and acquire malaria prevention just before we go. There is a natural spray called Dermal 200 (I think) that is from Australia, so we are debating about going with that, which is what Jon is using for malaria and yet he still got a mild case of it... no malaria prevention is 100% fool proof.
But God uses ALL things for good and Jon really receives from the Lord in those times of trial in ways that bless him as he wrestles with his tendency to rely so heavily on his own strength.
- One Sunday Jon went to visit their sister church for service (an hours walk away). He was asked to share something with the people at church, but was not prepared. Later, he agreed to share from a scripture he had looked at in the morning Jer 9:23-24.
- Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
- His thoughts that morning were realizing that those verses were a promise of God offering Himself to the people in the midst of their idolatry & sin. When he began to share at the service, he said "it was as if I had an outline". He shared about his own struggles with idols of exercise and how "I glory in my own strength & God uses typhoid and malaria to show me He is my strength." God so ministered to Him as he shared, he said it brought him to tears. The day before he wrestled with condemnation and God came through and forgave him and loved him. I cried to hear this. Thank you for remembering him in your prayers. God our, Good Shepherd is taking care of Jon beautifully.
There's been so much going on to try to hinder the work on the ground lately, & so much that God has done to turn all that around for more good than you could imagine!
We are truly overwhelmed by all we SEE Him doing on behalf of His people there & here!!
I trust you've seen William recent update for the trip and all God has done and all that still needs to be done. http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward/preview?u=d3e3508f72a4cfdd390e7e2a3&id=bb91047ec3
You have to see the video about Franklin Graham's visit to pray with the pastors in South Sudan!! I cried to see this:
Praising our Lord, who sees and knows and cares through His people!!
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