Living by Faith

I am in awe. 350 missionaries from 31 different countries, and their family members. All trusting God for their daily provisions. What a magnificent glimpse into the window of God's unlimited resources.

I've gained a whole new perspective of faith by listening to missionaries talk about the many miraculous ways their daily living needs have been met. They discuss how difficult and humbling it is to go to churches and ask for sponsors. But as their support funds build up, so does their faith and trust in God.

They also face conditions and dangers that we could not imagine. In Romania, and the Ukraine for example, heat is provided sporadically by the government -- and their decision does not appear to be determined by temperature. Sleeping without heat in 30/40 degrees is normal, and it's a good day when they have running cold water, and when they get hot water they celebrate. I had lunch with a young couple serving in Africa. She shared how hiding out when machete wielding rebels rampaged the area was a normal occurrence. She opened the door to AK Machine guns, her father arrested and held for weeks. One day they transported him by jeep and guns, told him to get out and start walking towards an open field. He assumed he would be shot in the back. About that time the homeland forces, also with guns , stood up at the forest line and met him in the field. There had been a miraculous negotiation for prisoner exchange, and he and his family were immediately removed by helicopter.

The stories could go on and on........