Before the coup d’etat in M@li, I was planning my vacation. I had some frequent flyer miles that HAD to be used by a certain date. My heart’s desire was to go to the beach somewhere. There was only one place I could fly to from M@li using my miles–Kenya. Sounds like a great place to visit…I have never been there. After checking into it, I discovered there is a good beach with snorkeling and lots of other great things to experience. As I planned, it looked like I would have to take that trip alone. Not my first choice, but my only choice.
Well the coup d’etat happened and I was unable to make my plans in time to use my frequent flyer miles. My Daddy G0d had higher plans for me. Just as His Word says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine,” His thoughts were way beyond what I had thought of for my birthday vacation. He used the difficulties in M@li to place me in a neighboring country for one month…a country on the west coast of Afr!ca…yes and a town on the coast.
On my second day in D@kar, some friends were showing us around and helping us know about all the places we would need for our time there. On that little tour, I spotted a lighthouse sitting in the distance …in the middle of the ocean. At that moment, I said to myself…”One day, I want to go out to that lighthouse and see it up close and personal.” The longer we stayed in D@kar and the more work G0d did in my sp!r!t about all that was going on in M@li, the more He opened my eyes to His higher thoughts and ways. He had a better plan for my birthday vacation…He placed me near the beach, He surrounded me with lots of people instead of being alone, and He provided me with lots of new experiences to bring joy and reminders of His Faithful Presence in difficult times. 
There were several birthday adventures while I was in D@kar. One was the bucket list event of finding a way out to the little lighthouse in the ocean. Some of my new friends and old friends took a little boat into the big ocean to take an up close personal look at the little lighthouse. It was a blast with only a couple of us experiencing greenness around the gills. The water was a little choppy that day because the wind was blowing. It was a fun journey…one I will never forget! The anticipation of seeing the little lighthouse filled me with joy as we got closer and closer. It just reminded me of the importance of us returning to M@li and her people. Right now, the times are turbulent and the country is on the verge of great disaster. Christ and His people stand as a light in the darkness to guide the way. G0d filled my Sp!r!t with f@ith and courage as I spent those few moments staring closely at that little lighthouse. My heart filled with resolve to follow Him and finish what He has begun in M@li.
More birthday fun took place as a group of us spent the day at AcroBaobab Adventure. It is an adventure park among a Baobab tree forest where you exsperience the challenges of a high ropes course. I have to say I believe this is the best high ropes course in the world. Each challenge presented its own fears to overcome!! It was a time to face and overcome obstacles that could either hinder your progress or sending you soaring to new heights. I love these kinds of challenges because life is full of them. When you face them, you know what is truly deep inside of you. I knew that the choice to return to M@li during these turbulent times was going to take a f@ith and a dependence on G0d like never before. This day at the park was a day where G0d and I continued to work out the f@ith and courage and dependence I was going to need to soar with HIM to new heights in my f@ith journey. It was a day to confess that I cannot do this life alone…He is everything I need!! 
So I stepped off that last platform to zipline to the ground knowing that I am not alone… knowing that He has called me… knowing that He is the One who holds me up! Complete abandon to the ONE in whom I believe… Complete trust in the ONE for whom I live!!