Redemption Wins II

There is an old Carmen song from my high school days that says, "Your desire is the confirmation, the destination is there. God wouldn't put it in your spirit, if it wasn't goin' nowhere. So set your sights on the promises and don't you be scared. Cause your desire is the confirmation, the destination is there!" So true. The big challenge is to trust God's timing. Just when we think it will never happen, or that God's forgotten, He shows up and shows out! Meaning, He shows His glory, might and power on our behalf. I call it a "suddenly"! Here it is, what you've been waiting for. Yet many times it doesn't look exactly like we thought it would..... it's better!

Ron and Karen Barnard

January, 2012. My husband Thomas and I were invited to a missions conference. We were needing a little getaway. It was a season of life like never before. Just 3 months prior, our 8 year old son Buck, and my sweet mother in law, Nelma, had been killed in a car accident. Grief can at times, make you immobile; you don't want to go anywhere or see anyone. It just takes more effort than you have. This trip was a good opportunity to get with some awesome Jesus people and have a change of pace for a few days. We were surprised and excited to see some old friends, Ron and Karen Barnard. It had been a while, so we enjoyed catching up about ministry, family, and just life in general. 

The conference was coming to a close when Ron asked us an unexpected question. "Hey, I'm going to Africa this October. Why don't you guys come with me?" ...What?! Africa?!!  We discussed different ministry opportunities and things we might be involved in if we went.

The fact was, Thomas and I had already been talking about what the "one year anniversary" would be like for us. We didn't want to be sitting around staring at each other feeling sorry for ourselves. We wanted to be busy doing something for God. Now, God was inviting us to be in Africa on that date. It felt right.

Girls home receiving toys on October 20, 2012

Boys home receiving toys on October 20, 2012

Monday, March 6 Thomas & I were in Buck's room looking through some of his things. Buck was in the third grade when he passed. I found some papers from Kindergarten that I hadn't looked at in years. One assignment jumped out at me. It was a list of fill in the blank questions.

 Number 6 leaped off the page. I wish every kid could have toys to play with in Africa. 

Have What? Where??! I barely remembered this assignment and certainly did NOT remember him talking about Africa!

Thomas and I knew what we wanted to do.  I called our missionary friend Ron, told him about the paper we had found and asked if there would be an opportunity to hand out some toys while we are there?  His answer was, "Absolutely!" 
 

This gave us positive motivation to do some cleaning out in Buck's room. We went through all of his toys gathering small ones that would be easy to pack and hand out. He had lots of cars, animals, balls, and a few small stuffed animals. Some friends heard what we were doing and readily donated items for girls. When October rolled around we were set to bless at least 100 kids. 

Ron's wife Karen and I had been asked to speak at a women's conference our first weekend in country. In preparation, I asked if there was a certain topic they wanted covered or a conference theme? Yes indeed, it was Redemption. It really didn't hit me until I began to prepare my message, the significance of the trip. We were going for more that one reason. It had been 24 years since I first had the desire to go to Africa. Back in college, our trip had been canceled for reasons beyond my control. God had closed the door at that time, knowing full well what the future held for me.

So as the Lord would have it, on Saturday, October 20, 2012, on the one year anniversary of our sons passing, I spoke about God's great redemption for us. I witnessed it first hand as I told the ladies that day of my desire to come to Africa 24 years prior. It was as if God said, not yet. I am saving that fulfillment for when you will need it most. It was such personal healing for me to speak on that day. Can you see why I love redemption so much?! But God wasn't finished yet.

Lewenslig Disability Home

 We had no idea where or when we would hand out toys during the trip. Saturday, after the service, one of the pastors offered to take us to their children's homes that the church had established. These were school age boys and girls who had been rescued off the streets. I cannot describe the emotions I felt as we handed out Bucks toys that day. Unbelievable fulfillment. If anyone had told us on the day of Buck's passing, that exactly one year later we would be in Africa handing out our son's toys, we would've never believed it! We had fulfilled Buck's wish, at least to a few.

This was life changing! This was healing in the face of great pain. Redemption was winning over our loss. We gave God our hurt and He redeemed it. In a beautiful way, He took our greatest trial and allowed Joy to come to others who needed it just as much as we did. His ways are above our ways. His thoughts above our thoughts. His ways are past finding out! (Isaiah 55)

On Sunday night, Thomas shared about our burden to reach precious people with disabilities. After service a young man let us know that his uncle ran a group home just down the street from the church. The next morning we were there handing out more toys and sharing the love of Jesus. God was continuing to fill up the emptiness of our hearts as we gave out to others.

Red Hill Settlement on Buck's Birthdate

If that wasn't enough, ten days later, October 30th, the Lord opened the door for us to hand out toys one more time at a poor informal settlement. This would've been Buck's 10th birthday. Many children received a gift that day in his memory.

I will forever be amazed at that trip to Africa. Jesus met us there. He knew when I should go and that it would not be my last!....

to be continued....

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"Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is FULL REDEMPTION!" Psalm 130:7