God, the show off

In the years since we felt compelled to move to Honduras, God has always reminded us that he is in control, not us. Four years ago near the time we got engaged, our hearts raced with passion for the Honduran people. But God gently reminded us, “Children your time has not yet come. I will guide you, just wait.”
We went ahead and finished our schooling to better prepare ourselves for the mission work we hoped to one day pursue. While making our plans to move to Honduras, we said we would move July 2009, just a few months after we both finished our degrees. I am sure that God laughed at us when we told him again what our plans were. Just before Matt graduated, we found out we were pregnant. We were going to have a baby due the EXACT DATE that we were planning to move to Honduras. God was saying to us, “Have faith! I have great plans for you, but this must be on my timing, not yours.
Even after Haley was born, we still felt a conviction in our hearts that God had a place for us in Honduras. On one hand we were being told to wait; and on the other hand, great things were happening that moved us closer to our goal making it difficult to wait. Many times, I told God, “Don’t you know this is where I want to be? I want to serve you!” I could almost hear him respond at times, “Yes child, I want you there, for I have great plans for you. Child, even Jesus spent many years in training before I allowed him to display my glory.”
Time past, and many events occurred to the point where our church family decided to stand next to us in our effort to serve the Lord. This came at a point that we were once again unsure of God’s leading in this great journey. At this point, God was saying clearly to us, Trust me. I have great plans for you. Plans far greater than you can imagine. Remember, child, my timing, not yours.”
During our journey, God has constantly reminded us that he is in control, and we are not, even when we desire to serve him. Sometimes he has exhibited his control by telling us to wait. Often times we are reminded of his control by the provision at just the right time in our lives.
Now, as I sit in my apartment in Costa Rica, (a place I thought I might one day visit, but never dreamed I would be living, even for a short time) I laugh because of all of the times God has gently said to us, “I want you to go, but first you must wait and grow.” Now he sends someone that wants to give $150,000 to our long term dream of helping homeless children learn trades and have a better life. No one had gone in search of this money; though we had prayed about it. In fact, my dad thought he was going to a meeting about an entirely different part of his ministry. This meeting and donation agreement all happened while I was flying to Houston the day we began the next chapter of our journey began. I guess God was showing off as he proclaimed, “This is my will for you, but remember that it is by my hand you are guided not your own.” There truly is joy in the journey.
With love,
Matt, Nicole, and Haley