Provision

Well,

I told you all that I've already started to get addicted to this thing. I haven't even left yet and I have another post for you. This is actually because something really exciting happened today, less than 13 hours from when I will depart on my trip.

I had been receiving generous donations from people after I sent out my invitations with the newsletter, but I still was quite a bit short of what I needed to pay Tito for my stay down there. Once the benevolent cash flow had started to slow to a trickle I resigned myself to the fact that my parents were going to have to compensate the rest of the fund so I could go and that I would pay them back when I got a job when I returned.

Despite my lack of faith, my mom kept on telling me that God would provide for me somehow. Today was an answer to that. I got three cards in the mail, one of which was overnighted just so it would reach me before I left. Those three donations covered the last entire THIRD of my trip cost and then some. It was truly amazing. I was blown away, and I knew that as soon as I bounded up the stairs my mom was going to be grinning ear to ear with an "I told you God would provide" type of smile. Of course, my cute mom never failed to deliver and that's exactly what happened.

I can't thank you all enough for donating to this cause. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. I thought I should get the missionary experience of having to rely on God to meet financial needs. Even though my parents assured me that regardless of the funds I would still go, it really caught me off guard as to how at the very LAST minute, God pulls a fast one on my doubts and took care of business. I know that doesn't mean that I will always get what I think I need or want, but today was truly a testament to the mysterious, yet unfailing faithfulness of God. Props to you full-time missionaries out there who fully put your faith in God to take care of your monetary funds.

The verse for today would have to be:

"My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus
to give you everything you need."
--Philippians 4:19

There is also a quote from a book by Max Lucado (whom I'm sure I'll quote again in the future). It says that "God's faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of His children. He is faithful even when we aren't." That was definitely true today and I have a feeling that it will happen numerous times over the course of this trip and in your lives as well. Trusting in God is definitely an easier-said-than-done type of thing, but that never should discourage us from doing it.

Thanks again for listening and I hope you enjoy these posts.

In Christ,

Justin

PS If you still haven't donated and were planning on it DON'T WORRY! I still can use money for the airfare which was covered a few months ago by my dad. I just didn't want anyone to be upset if they were planning on giving me money and thought that the option was now gone. That option will most likely always be open. :)