God’s Plan Wins

Somehow… I made it to Kigali!  There were a few times throughout the last ten months that I doubted I’d make it back.  One of those times was on my way here.  Ok, I didn’t actually think I wouldn’t make it back, but it was not an easy road to take.  Or should I say flight to take. 

Sitting in the Louisville airport, watching a dozen people speaking frantically with flight attendants at my terminal was my first sign that it wasn’t a great day for flying.  My flight had already been delayed to where I would need to book it to get on my next flight once I arrived in Chicago.  Prior to this point, I was so thrilled about my flight schedule.  I somehow got away with finding at 21 hour flight to Kigali with only 3 legs and short layovers.  (Short layovers are only good when everything else goes according to plan.  Lesson learned.)  I also was scheduled to arrive in Kigali on Saturday night, which meant that I’d be able to hang out with friends all day Sunday before I left for YL training on Monday. 

Once my flight’s delay got longer and longer, I realized there was really no hope in being able to make my flight to Istanbul.  Nobody on American Airlines could help me because they didn’t have access to anything Turkish Airlines.  When I arrived to Chicago at 11pm, my flight was long gone by 45 minutes.  I was instructed by my flight attendant to go to the Turkish Airlines desk to inquire about rescheduling my flight.  Just a side note, the Chicago O’Hare airport is huge.  Moving on.  By the time I got to the International terminal, nobody was there besides one airline.  I talked to a guy who told me, “Everybody went to bed.  Go back and talk to American Airlines.”  Since American Airlines sent me there, I felt mislead and defeated to my wits end.  I was exhausted with no answers as to how I would get to where I was going.  I made a call to my flight insurance agent who told me they don’t cover less than 6 hour delays.  Mine was 2.5 hours.  I went to American Airlines again where I was told, and like I recalled, they couldn’t help me. 

Here’s what I learned.  Things don’t always go as planned.  As I was navigating around that near empty airport, I could almost hear God telling me, “Trust me.  You can make plans, but know that My plans are best.”  I started thinking about this role as Young Life staff that I’m entering.  This was a reminder that things may go how I expect, but they probably won’t.  Things may change, and stuff might go wrong, but my destination should always be the same.  God got me to Kigali, even though the way was rockier than anticipated.  The destination for YL is for kids to know Jesus Christ.  The journey is how God gets us there.  Aim for the destination, take notes on the journey. 

By the mercy of God, I was stranded in the one international airport that was in the same city as my sister, Dani, and her family.  I was able to spend those 2 unplanned days in the States with them.  They were so helpful in driving me back and forth to the airport several times, taking a shift on being on hold with the multiple companies I had to call, and even convincing certain airlines that I should not have to pay for another ticket.  I could have been stranded anywhere, alone.  Instead I was taken care of and given more time with my beloveds.  God values relationships more than He values our detailed plans.  He created us to be in community. God really opened my eyes to how much I need a community to complete this call He placed on my life.  Next step; building a community around Young Life in Kigali!

Oh, to Witness a Miracle…

 

(Written on March 6) This has been the craziest two days of my entire life.  I have never in my wildest dreams imagined I would witness such an abundance of miracles as I have through raising support for Rwanda Young Life.  I am baffled, bewildered, and blessed by the overflow of funds that have come in over the last 9 months and even the last two days.  Two days ago, I recall praying that God’s timing would be perfect and that when He wanted me to be back in Rwanda, that would be the moment I would step on Kigali soil.  When I prayed that, I anticipated and hoped for April, but also knew logically that it would probably be later than that.  My logic was trumped by God’s reality quicker than I could have ever thought possible.  I’d heard stories about God providing in abundance in the last leg after a long marathon of fundraising, but I never thought I would be one to tell that story.  But here I am! 

(Written April 4) With only 8 days remaining before I depart to Rwanda, I’ve been reminded of how easy it is to move forth with life, forgetting about God’s miracles we witness.  I was on cloud 9 on March 6, praising God with every breath I took.  I couldn’t think about anything but God’s love for me.  I saw so clearly how involved God was in my life that I forgot all about the months of challenges I had faced in the process.  I saw that He was there all along and I was humbled that I ever thought that this funding depended on my own faithfulness.  It was all done because of God’s faithfulness, not mine.  Reflecting on those two days that knocked me off my feet, I wonder why my response to God isn’t like that everyday.  We witness miracles every single day.  We witness God’s provision in every single breath.  Yet, so much junk can get in the way of a heart being set free from worry or doubt.

I am still up in the clouds about God’s love and faithfulness, but I’d say I’m on a lower cloud; like cloud 5.  I’ve been wondering why I’ve come down even as much as I have.  God is still the same God.  His love is the same as it has always been.  My vision is what has been distorted.  My focus has been less on Him, and more on “What now?”  Questions of “How?” and “What?” have been filtering through my mind, making me believe I have to have all the answers before I go.  Never will I ever have all the answers.  I have been reminded to “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act.” (Psalm 37:7) Sometimes I want to rush ahead of Him; make sure I’m ready for any curve ball that is thrown at me.  But I’m told to “Commit everything you do to the LORD.  Trust Him and He will help you.” (Psalm 37:5)  Sounds pretty straight forward, but its simplicity can fool us into thinking it’s easy. 

If you’ve ever heard the story of God leading the Israelites out of Egypt, you remember how shocking it was that they so easily dismissed God after seeing Him provide an abundance of miracles to ensure their safety time after time.  From the beginning of time, God has not received the credit only He deserves from His creation.  We have such short-termed memories that fixate on what is presently needed, rather than what God proved that He is more than capable of doing in our lives.  I want to fix my thoughts on what God has done, not what I need done.  Although I should bring to Him what I need on a daily basis, I hope that once my need is brought to Him, I can move forth in praise knowing that God knows best how to meet my every need.  Praise God that He is patient with us and remains the same, even when we waver in remembering that.