On Wedensday I went to family group, but we arrived early. So, Sandy and I headed over to Carla's to wait for her and her mom to be ready for group. As we were talking and returning to Erika's for family group, Sandy was sharing with us how the Lord had been answering prayer over the previous couple of days.
1) Last week at youth group, Steve asked if any of our students would be interested in a 5-week intensive DTS-like program in July and August. Five students raised their hands, but 2 were extra-excited about the opportunity: Julio and Mili. It would require them to get permission from their parents (since they are under 18), a recommendation from the pastor, fill out an application, and pay 2000 pesos (~$2oo USD). The bright side of that price is that the students will be participating in the youth camp we're attending in August, so the cost of the program includes the cost of camp. Anyway, Mili went home and over the weekend mentioned it to her parents, and her mother very quickly opposed the idea and closed the subject saying that Sandy was doing so much over the summer that this program was too much and therefore Mili could not go. We all started praying over this because Flavia seemed to dismiss it pretty quickly. Well, Sandy shared with Carla and I that the day before the school had been mentioned again, but her mom wasn't very hip to the idea still. Sandy and her mom later ended up in the kitchen alone, and her mom started talking to Sandy about the school. She apparantly had in mind that Sandy wanted to go as well (which wasn't the case), and proposed to Sandy that she refrain from this opportunity so that Mili could have a chance at it. Sandy said that she had not had plans to attend, but took advantage of the opportunity and told her mom that was fine and that she'd love for Mili to have this opportunity. At that point Flavia seemed to give her approval!!!
The only issue left was the money issue. Sandy said that later that day she and Mili were in their room discussing all this, and Mili brought up the cost. Sandy told her that they still didn't know if the ministry would help with the cost or not, but regardless that Sandy would give Mili ALL of her money (saved, earned this summer to pay for camp, photography earnings, etc.) so that Mili could go to school. This meant that Sandy was sacrificing the youth camp so that Mili could go to school for 5 weeks. Mili didn't like this idea, but when Sandy said "which would you prefer: the two of us go to just the youth camp, or i stay home from camp and you go to the school?" Mili responded that she would choose the school. I was shocked at how quickly and joyfully willing Sandy was to give her sister this opportunity and hope. She said that she hasn't seen her sister so excited about anything related to her faith in a really long time and she just had to do whatever she could to encourage this excitement in Mili. She took the chance to encourage Mili to keep praying, to work hard, and to simply trust the Lord to open the doors. It seems that he's doing that so far.
2) Sandy continued saying that she was in the hamock Wednesday morning/early afternoon just talking to the Lord about all that had gone on and praying and petitioning and thanking him. As she continued, she moved into a line of prayer that I had challenged her to on Monday. Last Monday, as I already blogged, we talked about the fruit of Goodness, and how it DOES -- it acts. She was challenged to pray and ask the Lord what he would want her to DO. She received an answer from Psalm 32:8 and Psalm 33. The jist of the answer was to continue waiting on Him, and He would make it clear in due time what He wants her to DO. The answer was "Wait and Trust me." Well this Monday we studied faith and how Faith FIGHTS because it remembers that on the other side of the battle is a promise waiting to be fulfilles that merits the fight. So, her challenge this week was to spend the week praying and asking the Lord what the promise was He had awaiting for her because she's been in a "fight" for quite a while now...so what is she fighting to attain. On Wednesday she told us that her prayer time in the hammock movced to this challenge, and ask she asked the Lord what the promise was that He had awaiting her. She said the Lord answered her out of Acts 1:4,8
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about....But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' "
She said that basically the promise was that she was going to be a witness for the Lord and she would do so in the POWER of the Spirit. She seemed so excited because God has been answering her so quickly these days, and in ways that really encourage her to keep praying! On Friday night at youth group Martin gave the lesson, and he talked about how God has a plan for each one of us; we just need to wait on him and trust that He will reveal his purpose for us when He's ready. On our way home, Sandy was sharing with me how the study encouraged her even more in light of the prayer challenges and answers. She basically she feels like the last couple weeks God has been saying to her, "For now just wait and trust that I do have something for you to do. But when the time comes, hold on, cuz you're gonna really take off in that plan!" She's really excited about this, and she's looking forward to being even more involved in the youth group and being able to share with others and encourage them to the depth of relationship that she is finding in her Lord!
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