About a week ago, Chloe and I began praying.
Let me back up a little. Chloe has been planning for some time to go on an 11-month internship to Japan. She put her preparations on hold while she finished up her last year (on-site) at college, so she could focus her attention on studies and school. During the final semester, she applied to ABWE in order to be sent through this missions agency (same as her parents). Following school in May, she began contacting churches to seek a meeting to present her upcoming ministry opportunity and request prayer and financial support. Many of the same churches she has formerly visited, either with us on our furloughs or while having a concert there, graciously allowed her to come and share her vision of what God’s leading her to do. That was early May.
Now it’s the end of July. We looked at this thermometer chart above, and about a week ago, it read that her support was at 25%. . . . with only three weeks before departure time! Yikes! Chloe was feeling pretty low, I’d say, assuming that there was no way she would be able to leave with Norman and me in August. So, we started praying to the only One who has deep pockets, compassion that reaches the heavens, and who knows how to give His children good gifts. We prayed each night together, and alone throughout the day, begging God to make it possible for her to leave as planned. We also realize that God’s plan may not be our plan, and we want to praise Him and follow Him whether He allows her to go or not.
About three days after we began praying, God brought in several substantial gifts from His people. That brought the total up to what you see above – forty percent of what she needs. We kept on praying. It’s been about a week now since we started, and we remembered the verse in Ephesians 3:20-21 that claims that God is able to do more than we can ask or think (or imagine or dream)! We prayed that. And God graciously answered!! He did something that I had never considered as a solution.
He lowered Chloe’s costs!
Norman had been away for a week, and when he returned, he took another look at the costs he had estimated with ABWE some months before. Since that time, though, he had received some actual amounts needed for various parts of the upcoming trip and stay. All in all, he was able to remove $4,000 from the total cost! Chloe double-checked it with ABWE, and they agreed to the changes.
Chloe still does not have all she needs, but we aren’t finished praying yet! I hope you will join us as we beseech God to teach us how powerful He is, how He meets needs and answers prayers. Faith triumphs over doubt and fear. Jesus said to ask anything in His name, and He would do it, so God the Father would be glorified. We know He doesn’t always give us what we want, but when our requests are in line with His will, He is happy to provide what we desire.
I’ve been so blessed to watch Chloe’s doubts turn to faith and praise. Praying together with someone for something important is so exciting. I encourage you to try it!