I just wanted to share a couple of experiences that have happened to me in the past 24 hours. As all of you know if you have been following the blog, we have had our share of troubles with this mission trip this year. Every year we have had our struggles and difficulties but this year those attacks and troubles seemed to happen more often and with more severity than in years past! But God is always faithful and just and provides us with power and strength through His Holy Spirit and finds ways to encourage and pick us up through experiences or people!
These last 24 hours have been exactly that, those moments and experiences that encourage and lift you up like wings on eagles!! After all the struggles we have had with finding materials and the cost of those materials to build the stage, we had just finished a very productive day on building and we were driving home. There out in front us in the sky was the biggest and prettiest rainbow. Rock pointed it out, and then said how refreshing it was to see and hear our team to go God in prayer when we have been facing adversity. That rainbow was a promise to Noah, to encourage him and let him know that God loved him and it was a promise to us that He never leaves us or forsakes us.
Last night many of the Storks and others came to Janko's to have a meal. It was a terrific time of fellowship and it was very encouraging to see all the smiles on everyone's faces and to see the conversations taking place. It reminded me of why we are here: to love them where they are and to love them til they ask why! While taking the boys home last night I drove with a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart that Satan cannot steal no matter what problems or difficulties he may throw in our path. During that trip Brandon was sitting in the back of the van listening to the fellas and found out that the football team in Split and the baseball team in Sisak are both raising 100 euros to help get the shipment out of hands of the Slovenia officials. That was so encouraging to hear and to know that both teams are reaching out to help us shows the love they have in return for us! God used that to touch me to the core and encourage me to keep our focus on the task of serving Him alone!
We finally got to bed around midnight and I woke up at 4 feeling like I had gotten over 10 hours of sleep. Thank God for small miracles!! Shannon had gotten up early to take Chris to the airport on Tuesday and was planning on taking Dalton and Rusty this morning but since I was up I told her I would take them. That gave me a great time to debrief with them and to see what God had laid on their hearts. Both were excited to be here and ready for next year's trip. In fact Dalton said next year's trip could not come soon enough. When I left the airport for my return trip back to Sisak I looked up to my left to watch the sunrise and there just above it was a cross formed by two jet streams! It was an incredible sight and I stopped the car and took a video of it. It was another reminder like the rainbow, that God had given me to remind me that He was in control. The rainbow is a sign that He will never leave me or forsake me and the cross is a reminder of His great love through His son Jesus Christ! Incredible reminders and a smile crept across my face and my heart sang HIS praises! HOLY, HOLY, HOLY He is and how thankful I have HIM as my Lord and Savior!
About 5 miles out of Sisak I ran across a van that was stopped beside the road just outside a small village. There were about 7 people standing around and one of the men was hitch hiking. I drove past them knowing I didn't speak their language and that the car I was driving was to little to fit them all in. But as I passed them I looked in my rear view mirror and God began to tug at my heart. I felt the need and desire to turn around and couldn't shake it. So at about a quarter to half mile past I turned the care around and headed back to them. I had to drive a little ways past them so I could turn around safely. As I slowed down and rolled my window down the older man bent down and looked into my window and I asked him if he spoke English. He backed away saying no no, but then had a younger one came over with a gas can asking if I would take him the nearest gas station. He hopped in and we drove to Sisak for gas. As we drove I asked him his name and he told me Harlon. He did not speak much at first but since we had to drive about 5 miles to the nearest gas station he began to answer my questions. I found out he has 7 brothers and sister and he is originally from Macedonia. They are Gypsies who have lived in Sisak for 4 years. He is 18 and has a girl friend. He told me it is very hard to find a job in Croatia. When we got to the gas station he filled up his can and ran into pay for it and then I told him I would take him back to their car. He was so thankful and on the way back began to ask me questions... where I was from and if I had any children and what I did for a living. He asked why I was in Sisak and that gave me the chance to share about God's love through Christ and explain all the things we were doing. He listened intently and our mission statement kept running through my head: Love 'em where they are and love 'em till they ask why! This was a wonderful example of doing just that. A seed was planted today in young Harlon's heart and I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in his heart through that experience. I know I will never forget it! Just before we got back to the car we passed a bus station and I waved at a person standing there. Harlon looked at me and then turned his head almost completely around to look and see if the person waved back. When his face turned to look back at me I could see a smile on his face and he told me that I was a very generous man. I thanked him and could feel his eyes on me the rest of the way.
When we got back to the van I let him and turned around. By the time I got back to them the father was out in the road trying to give me some money for helping. I told them no over and over but he insisted so I took 20 kuna which was about 4 dollars. I nodded my thanks and he waved as I left. When I looked in my rear view mirror I could see them standing around Harlon and I was praying that my step had left Christ's PRINT!
God works in and through us in mysterious ways. If you feel a tug that you should do something for somebody don't ignore it. The tug is from God and he provides HIS Spirit to go with us so that we will never have to do it alone.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and please continue to pray for all that we have going on, the finances to cover the unforeseen costs and the travel for those coming and those leaving. My son Grant arrives tomorrow along with Mike Norman the football coach and Heidi Dawson! Also pray that we could get the shipment out of Slovenia and into Croatia with no more expense. The one thing we do know is that God is in control and for that we are indeed thankful!
Our steps leaving HIS PRINT!
David
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