It Just Takes 3

As I scrolled down the five pages of my end of the year financial report(support that came into IM for me in the month of Dec), my heart began to sink. Most missionaries hope and pray for end of the year giving to either get them out of debt, or to help them start the New Year on a decent financial footing, and I am no different from them. Though I'm not in debt, this past year has been extremely hard financially and I was entering the New Year with enough support for my personal monthly needs, but almost none for my ministry needs. I put a lot of time and effort into an end of the year financial wrap-up that went out to about 80 people and several churches. I need about $8340(conservatively) just for ministry expenses this year(traveling, camps, conferences, trainings, etc), and so I had begun praying that half of that number would be given through end of the year contributions. Then I stopped and realized what a ridiculous prayer that was when God could provide any amount that He wants(and adjusted my prayers accordingly)!

I scrolled down the first page of my financial report. Nothing new. Second page. Nothing new. I felt my heart beginning to slide. Third page. Nothing new. My heart was definitely beginning to splinter. How could I tell people that I can't do the trainings/camps/conferences that I've been asked to do because I just don't have the finances? How can I do my ministry this year? Fourth page. Nothing new. At that point, I stopped, feeling almost heartbroken, and beginning to get teary eyed I prayed, "Lord, help me to know what ministry You have in store for me this year and help me to be completely satisfied with what You choose to give me and how You choose to provide for me." Fifth page; only three names remain. I scanned quickly down and then my eyes jerked back up to the middle name- a regular contributor. The amount should have said $150. But it didn't. It said $5,150. As I sat there in stunned, disbelieving silence, tears began to roll down my cheeks.

God provides any way that He wants to. Would I have loved to have seen more people be excited about the ministry of Missionary Care and give that same big amount in smaller increments, but from 15-20 individuals? Yes. Would I have loved to have seen more response from the 80 beautiful, time consuming financial wrap-ups that I sent out? Absolutely. But God chose to use three families(I already knew about two of them prior to receiving my end of the year report) to provide for much of my ministry needs for this year. Out of 80 invitations to be a part of my financial team this year, three people responded. That number can seem so small and discouraging, and yet, God chose to provide 3/4 of my ministry needs for this year through three families. Out of the $8340 needed for my ministry costs for this entire year, I already have all but $2000. That means that God has provided for me to be able to:

-go through New Tribes Mission's debriefing training program to learn how to debrief missionaries when they're going through transition, grief, crisis situations, etc.
-go through training and become a Cerny Smith coach(it's a stress assessment tool for missionaries)
-spend time with the missionary students at the MT training center, both in the Winter and in the Fall
-attend Staff conf. in Romania and then spend time with staff there and possibly in Poland
-lead a team from my church to Ukraine for Eng. camp and then spend time with staff
-attend the biggest conf. on Missionary Care

Obviously, I still need the remaining amount for my projected budget for other trips, but how tremendous to know that the ones listed above have already been taken care of! God is so good! But let me say this....God would be just as good if He hadn't provided this and if I wasn't able to do the ministry that I  thought I was called to do this year. God is good. All the time. Even if I don't have the faith to believe it; He never changes. He cannot go against Himself and His nature. He loves me, and you, and He knows what is the best for each one of us. Even if He had chosen to not give me this, He would have remained a good God, and I would have had the chance to let Him unfold His goodness in a way different than I had envisioned. And He still may choose to do so. But in the meantime, I'm rejoicing in the way that He chose to provide so bountifully for my ministry through just three people.

*How has God chosen to surprise you recently?