Finishing What He Starts

“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day, I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” 
Genesis 28:15

Greetings from cold S3negal!!

The weather here was a complete shock to us!! I came prepared for hot season…I mean this is West Afr1ca, right? Well the answer to that is yes, BUT D@kar is a peninsula sticking out into the Atlantic Ocean. The weather is VERY different here …a surprisingly great difference. We are experiencing days in the 70’s/80’s and nights in the 60’s. Shortly after arriving, we went shopping and I was able to find a long sleeve T-shirt to start my days. My family will be glad to know that I have my “uniform”–a long sleeve t-shirt and long African pants that I wear daily just like we did when we went on family vacation. Every morning I think of you all–mom, dad, Sheri, and Vicki–when i put on my “uniform”.

I continue to truly enjoy my little garden spot with G0d each day!! G0d has tenderly met with me, listened to my heart cries, spoken His W0rds over me and directly to me, and filled my heart with pe@ce and j0y!! While last week was characterized by chaos of emotions, events, and uncertainty swirling around the anchor of G0d’s Sp1r1t and Presence, this week has been filled with a return to a simple focus on G0d alone and the calm certainty of His voice, His call and His plan for our lives. On Monday morning, I woke up and went to my little garden spot and poured my heart out to Him. I pr@ised Him and confessed my surrender to Him. I sat with Him and remembered all that He has started in M@li, all the ways we had seen Him at work, all the things He had said He would do.  I began pr@ying His word back to Him and confessing that His word says that He finishes what He starts.  I simply began asking Him to do that–finish what He had begun in M@li among the people, in the lives of those He has been calling to serve in M@li this summer, in C@therine’s life, in my own life, and through the work of HSI. I thanked Him for all He had done to provide for the Gift of Grain, and asked Him to complete what He started among those who are in desperate need for food. I began seeking His direction, timing, and will about returning to M@li.

After my time of pr@yer with Him, I began reading and listening to His Word. My first scripture was Gen 28:15. He spoke loudly to my heart, “I am with you, I will protect you”….then the final touch…”One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have FINISHED giving you what I have promised.” At that moment, I knew He was saying to me…this land, this people I have promised as your inheritance, you will go back and I will finish what I have started. At that moment for me, it was done. God gave me an overwhelming pe@ce and rest in my sp1r1t. I knew at that moment He is preparing the road for me to go back. I am still awaiting His specific time and I believe it to be soon. No matter when He fully opens that door, His pe@ce has filled my heart, my mind, and my sp1r1t. Since that time with Him on Monday, He has been  drawing me closer and closer, preparing my heart and opening my eyes to what He is preparing for us. Catherine and I have spent each day this week pr@ying together, seeking His direction and just lifting M@li and her people up to G0d. We are both in agreement and sense Him leading us, preparing us, and showing us what is next for us. We know that we will not be going back to the same M@li, but we will be going back to a place where the humanitarians needs are greater, the people are seeking, and our G0d is at work.

My other scriptures that day were from Romans 8:31-39…He continues to say to me over and over…He never promised  we would have NO TROUBLES or no difficulties…He HAS promised His Presence, His Protection (not safety), His victory.

Join us as we pr@y for

-M@li and those who are leading her
-the Ch.rch of M@li to stand strong and be His light in the darkness
-the Chr1stian refugees coming into B@mako from the north
-God to provide help for the refugees from the north through the -M@lian ch.rch and others who come alongside them
-His timing for our return
-His plans and purposes for us to be clear in our minds as we return to serve Him