Jehovah-Jireh

Well a week ago I sent my first post about The Return, including an “ask” for financial support.  Fingers crossed, leap of faith, trusting somehow God will provide for this trip He’s calling me on.  (You know, that trust mixed with panic as you say to yourself “Really God? This just may be the stupidest financial decision of my life!”) A couple days passed, the blog was read, statistics rose showing 60+ viewers… no response for financial help.

*cue panic, doubt, fear, anxiety*

Well, Jehovah- Jireh, my provider, strikes again, slapping me in the face and reminding me He really does have it all under control.  This is HIS ministry, not mine. 

Ways the Lord has proven He’s gonna provide for my every need:

1. I eat a relatively restricted diet for medical reasons.  My diet is one that promotes health, low inflammation, and high immunity…  Groceries for this diet are very expensive.   Fuller offers a Food Distribution to the community every Wednesday with donated items from grocery stores. I’ve gone once in the past and haven’t gone since, primarily because it is usually canned/boxed goods which I can’t eat.  This week I felt prompted to go.  I walked away with a heavy bag of groceries worth around $40… FREE.

2. Last night I babysat for a family I only met a couple of months ago.  I shared with them about how I will not be available for babysitting in the summer, explaining my trip to Zambia.  When they paid me at the end of the night they wrote a separate check for $100 encouraging me saying, “We believe in what you’re doing! And we figure you only need 34 more people to write a check like that one.”  (They were also very generous in their babysitting payment!)

3. This morning I received word back from the travel agency regarding tickets.  As I opened the email, I braced myself for the blow of the cost for the tickets… afraid to think about how much prices have risen in 2 years.  I couldn’t believe it when I read that each individual round-trip ticket would cost $1,875.  Tears hit my eyes… I’m pretty sure in the past my one-way tickets cost $1,400… this price is $700 LESS than what I budgeted for. 

Plane-tickets are purchased, and my bank account is looking quite sad (especially after paying this month's rent!)… but I feel even more hopeful and full of faith that the Lord will provide for each day’s needs. 

Thank you for joining me in prayer and faith, knowing that the Lord will provide!

Please pray for the following:

1- Financial provision

2- I will still be paying rent in California while I am gone. Pray that someone will become available to sub-let the space so that I don’t have this extra cost!  (Anyone want to live in Cali in a fully-furnished apartment for 2 months?!)

3- The next things on the to-do list will be navigating medical stuff (vaccine updates, malaria prevention, travel insurance etc.) pray this goes smoothly

4- I am still a full-time student, part-time baby-sitter, and full-time human being who needs sleep, friends, and health!  Pray for balance, perseverance, and provision. J

Thank you for sharing this journey with me!