Back home in Seattle...
I finally made it back home! It was a challenging, difficult and blessed return back to Seattle, but I have been overwhelmed by the mercy and grace of God every single moment of this amazing journey!
The Holy Spirit has continued to be absolutely faithful in covering every detail, event and personal need along the way! An example of this is my suitcase, which our friends overseas affectionately call, "the refrigerator"! I checked it in last Friday morning for a direct flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Seattle. Then after loading the plane they decided the aircraft was broken, so a few hours later we headed to a substitute aircraft which took a few more hours to prepare then was also declared unfit to fly. So about 150 of us spent hours trying to get new flights to Seattle and beyond for the next day. The next morning I was able to get a flight to Houston because there were no seats left on any direct flight home.
I was warned several times that my checked bag needed to be picked up personally, by me, in Houston and rechecked because it was my port of entry into the US. But after being shuttled from one plane to another, loaded then unloaded several times and redirected to Houston- my bag was nowhere to be found! If I waited in Houston, at baggage claim, too long I would miss my chance to take the last seat home to Seattle- so I asked the Holy Spirit what to do? He said, "Don't worry, just keep going..." (sounds Scriptural!)
I made the plane for the final leg home and was anxious to see Sue but told her I would have to stop at lost baggage and explain this whole story to see where in Europe or North America my bag might have ended up!? Coming from Houston I was not on an international flight, but the Holy Spirit told me to go directly to the international carousel. And there it was, in Seattle, going around and around on the international carousel with one other bag- after 1000's of miles, two continents and four planes later with no one to claim ownership or walk it through US Customs...undamaged and ready to take home! Kay Bolles has been our faithful 'bag lady' and we have not lost one bag in all the years she has been praying- what a gift! Our God covers it all!!
There were challenges and obstacles all along the way and sometimes it wasn't clear what was even possible, but God had a way and an answer for everything! I was conscious every day that earnest partners in our ministry together were covering everything in prayer and even with fasting both from the US side and in each of our host Countries! Our time was powerful, broke ground that the enemy thought was his and brought new life and freedom everywhere we went! I say 'we' because I was with my beautiful wife, Sue, all through the first three weeks of the trip but also we are always with mature saints in each of these Countries, whom we have walked with for many years and they are the ones that continue the work long after we are gone!
Another wonderful endnote to this last saga was about the money God sent us with. It was less than we had taken in many years. Dear Pastor Katelyn asked if it was really enough? But the Holy Spirit said convincingly that this time it was just right. It turned out that the average gift for those we are committed to in ministry was less than $200, which is spread out over several months. And God quieted my concerns with the assurance that He knows how to pick up the difference, if we and they, continue to keep our eyes fixed on Him! And amazingly, everybody was at peace with this confidence...
I was tempted a couple times to try to find more money somehow to help with the needs but God told me that it would not be necessary! By the time I headed home everything I thought He wanted us to help with, was done and complete. And when I tried to tip that last day, I was reminded how perfect God is- I did not have one dollar left or one ruble or even a single Euro to finish the trip home but everything needed was fully supplied!! He is not only miraculous but absolutely trustworthy and loving!! Let His Name alone be praised forever and ever!!! AMEN....
(I have more stories and pictures to share on the blog - so I hope you'll stay tuned!)