Making plans for the future.

Well, we have been home now for almost a month. It has been so good to see our family and friends. We have had many challenging issues to work through over the past month, including some health issues, and I have to say, I wasn't really excited about it. But, once again, the Lord has shown Himself faithful and what seemed overwhelming a month ago, is all sorting itself out. That is the Lord. He is the only one who could possibly put things in order to allow us to return to Guatemala in January and we are so thankful for divine intervention.
I think if I was aware of all of the ways the Lord provided, protected, guided and directed my life I'd be shocked. I know He is working His miracles in my life continually, but for the most part I am unaware. When I do see, with my physical eyes, how He has provided, I am only seeing the tip of the iceberg; so much more has happened already beneath the surface.
For example, in October, our renters emailed us in Guatemala to tell us they were moving. We were concerned about coming back to Canada, advertising and hoping to find good tenants. It is hard to put someone in your home and then leave the country, as you don't really know how they will care for your home. Just as we were preparing to put the ad on Kiji and Craig's List, and begin the long process of interviewing possible tenants, we had lunch with my family. We sat with my nephew and his family and learned they were interested in our house. To make a long story short, they are our new tenants!
With this provision, God answered two of our prayer concerns - providing us with good tenants and eliviating some of our concern about leaving Arryn behind in Canada. To know that she won't be alone in the house, but will have family upstairs, is a huge relief for us. How many things, although, needed to be put into place for this to all happen? Certainly more than I was aware of when I received the email saying we needed to find new tenants. I could only see the tip of the iceberg, and it looked more like a challenge than a blessing.
Another example of God's provision and planning is in the area of our health. Rocky has been in need of a surgery for a number of months now and we were doubtful that he'd be able to get in while we were home. Again, it looked like a real challenge. We were thinking that he'd actually have to return to Canada at some point during the year to have the operation. But, the Lord had a different plan. The surgeon he visited happened to be going to Guatemala to volunteer in a hospital in Antigua later this year. They got to talking and she was impressed with what Rocky was doing. She offered to ask one of her other patients to have their surgery postponed, so that Rocky could get in and have time to recover before we need to leave for Guatemala! That just doesn't happen in today's medical climate; that was the Lord! He hand selected this particular surgeon and prepared her heart in advance of Rocky's appointment. We serve an amazing God!
The Lord has also made a way for us, financially. Not only has He provided some odd jobs for Rocky this month so we have some cash for Christmas, but our support levels have increased substantially since we started on this adventure one year ago. All of last year, we were going into debt each month to work as missionaries in Guatemala. It was a debt we were willing to take on, as we really believe the Lord has called us to serve Him in Guatemala. That doesn't make it easy, although, and we were concerned about how much longer we could shoulder the debt if our support didn't increase. As we were reviewing the reports that Impact Ministries gave us at the end of October, we were humbled and thouroughly blessed. Although we are not yet at full support, we are getting close. The Lord asked us to go and we said yes, without knowing where the support would come from, and now we see Him touching people's hearts to give. That is miraculous.
I am sure if you stopped and looked at your life, you, too, could list off numerous ways the Lord has interviened and not only provided in a time of crisis, but prepared the situation well in advance of the crisis. What an amazing God we serve. He never promised us life that would be without its trials, but He did promise if we lift our eyes off of the problems and set them on Him, the author and finisher of our faith, we will see with a new perspective. That is my challenge - to see more than just the tip of the iceberg and feel overwhelmed or even defeated. I want to lift my eyes to the heavens and recognize the miraculous hand of the Lord in my life, so I can rejoice and give thanks in all things.
Bless you,
Karren