A Call That Made My Day...

For some reason, coming home from Swaziland this time has been the hardest yet...  I've just been so stinkin' sad about what I learned this time...  Funny, while I was there, I had so much fun with them...  But coming home, as I've had time to really process our conversations, I'm overwhelmed with the depth of the need there and the obstacles they face...

And of course, all of that need costs money...  It cost to go there...  It cost to help them with resources...  And that feels overwhelming too...

But in the midst of it all, some really cool things have been happening and God's been busy reminding me that He still owns the cattle on a thousand hills...

On Tuesday I learned that in a Silent Auction, that Ruby's Gift (on Selwyn Avenue), held for me right before I left, raised $245!!  Guess what the deposit amount is to open a trip account at Heart For Africa?  $250!  (Ruby's Gift is a GREAT gift shop that features only local artists...  Stop by sometime, it is a really fun place to shop!)


That same day, I received my acceptance letter into a really big juried art festival in September...

Yesterday, I stopped by another gift shop (Honeysuckle) where I have a booth for my jewelry and was stunned when she gave me my check for July...  I thought July was going to be a terrible month...  But it was my 2nd best so far!!

In the evening, I happened to check my website and realized a sale had come through while I was gone...  when I e-mailed her to apologize for the delay in getting her order to her, she said her friend had received one my necklaces as a birthday gift and that's how she found out about my jewelry!  Referrals are such a good sign for a business!

And then the phone call that made my day...  One of Zack's good friends called looking for him, I'll call him C...  C is a great young man and very talented...  He leads worship and wow, can he can sing!  Since Zack was at soccer practice, C said, "Mrs. M..., I've been wanting to talk to you...  In a few weeks my first CD is coming out and I'd like to donate a portion of my profits to your next trip to Africa."

I was stunned...  I wasn't even sure what to say...  At 17, I was all about me...  I wanted to make (and spend) all that I could...  It would have never occurred to me to give it away!

And in that moment God taught me something...  He will move in willing hearts and He WILL accomplish His purposes, I just need to keep taking one step at a time, praying and trusting that God will provide what is needed!

Well, I told C that I would be honored for him to donate to my next trip, but would he be willing to pray about something first... I am not a non-profit and while you can contribute to my trips through Heart For Africa, which is a non-profit...  Heart For Africa is the one that people need to be pointed to...  God is doing amazing things through them in Swaziland!

I also told him about the community that I've grown to love and I told him about their need for a well...  And that seemed to really touch his heart...  So we are in the process of exploring if we can do the well through HFA...  If so, God may have just opened the door, and started providing the resources for this community to get the water they so desperately need...  I had been praying and asking God for clear direction about whether or not to pursue raising funds for a well...  And He answered through a selfless 17 year old young who was willing to hear his Father's voice and follow...

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

God will accomplish His purposes...  He will equip me, and Heart For Africa, and that awesome community in Swaziland, and YOU... for every good work that He has planned...  I definitely need to memorize that verse and hang on to it!!

Tomorrow I'll tell you about some VERY special visitors that will be here later today!!!  It's going to be a GREAT day!!  (And when C's CD is available in a few weeks, I'll let you know that too!)