The fleece...

My homebody tendencies consistently act up before I go out of town, causing me to have thoughts of not really wanting to go.  I've learned to recognize it for what it is, my attachment to my own nest and comfort zone and routine.  Once I'm packed and I'm in the car or the plane, the thoughts always leave. Yet, on occasion, I've wondered if it's God telling me that I'm not to go.  I wondered that before I went to Nicaragua in March.  My daughter and son-in-law and a team from their church were going and they invited me to go as well.  Before I knew it, I had a plane ticket and I was committed.  Yet, right up to the time I left for the airport, I had thoughts of "why am I doing this?".  I'd never had a desire or calling to go to Central America, our missions work is usually focused on West Africa.  But, once my husband took me to the airport, I was fine and ready to face this new adventure.

The trip was more than I imagined it would be.  I loved Nicaragua!  I loved the people.  I loved seeing the work of Forward Edge at Villa Esperanza.  I loved the team I went with.  I loved being just one of the team, not being in charge, not being there in the ministry role I live with at home.  The week was filled with hard work and not enough sleep, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

One morning, the pastor of Villa Esperanza shared a time of devotions with our team.  His son interpreted from Spanish into English for us.  Suddenly, the pastor switched into English, and spoke these words, "God will surprise you".  I felt my spirit leap within me.  It seemed to me that God was speaking those words personally to me. He was speaking to me about prayers I've prayed for a long time, yet not yet seen answers for.  He was speaking to me regarding some long held heart's desires I've not yet see come to pass.  

Later in the week, our team leader handed each one of us a blank card.  He instructed us to write something God did in us or spoke to us that week on the card.  He told us that sometime in the coming year he would mail the card to us.  I wrote "God will surprise you" in bubble letters on the little orange card, then sealed it inside a teal colored envelope, addressed it to myself and gave it to our team leader.

Last week, my husband and I had a wonderful little getaway for a few days.  We both really needed some rest and refreshing.  On the way home, after a time of good conversation, there was a quiet lull.  I suddenly remembered the little card and the message, "God will surprise you".  In my mind I "thought/prayed", "God, if that message was really from You, will you confirm it by having the card be in the mail when we get home".

When Gideon wondered if God had really spoken to him, (Judges 6:17-40), he dared to ask God for a sign.  His sign involved a fleece being wet with dew while the ground around it was dry, and the next day remaining dry while the ground around it was wet.  My "fleece" was asking that a little note in a teal colored envelope be waiting for me when I got home from our getaway.  I knew the odds weren't in my favor since the team leader had said he would mail it sometime in the coming year.  There were three hundred and sixty five days for him to choose from.

I walked into the house, forgetting about my "thought/prayer" in the unloading of the car and carrying everything into the house.  Then I walked into the kitchen and saw the pile of mail our friend had collected and brought inside the house for us, and on the top of the pile, a little teal envelope.

Isn't it amazing, that God takes a homebody like me to another country she had no desire to ever even go to just so He can speak four little words to her?  God will surprise you.  Yes, yes, He will.

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