Traveling encounters

Last night I wrote to you from a hotel room in Charlotte, NC and tonight I write to you from Highland Community Church in Seattle, WA. This is where we are spending the night before taking the Amtrak bus on into Vancouver tomorrow morning. The church has been wonderful, picking us all up from the airport, loaning us a personal mini-van to travel in tonight and providing a place to sleep, breakfast tomorrow and a trip to the Amtrak station. I pray that God will continue to bless this giving congregation as they shine brightly in their community.

In my post last night, I asked that you pray that we would remember that we are already on mission, each and every day, even as we traveled today. Well, someone's prayers were answered and I thank you for that. God certainly provided some incredible traveling encounters today.

The first one was in the Charlotte airport before we even got started. We were waiting to board and some of the team was talking about "the Lord" and such and a young man sitting behind them, interrupted their conversation, and told them how he heard them speaking of God and wanted to join in. Turns out this young man of 18 was already a believer, a very strong and bold believer, who with his family, tours the country singing the praises of our Lord. God is also beginning to open doors for this young man to have opportunities to speak to youth groups and be a bold witness. He blessed our hearts with his obvious love for Christ and his sweet spirit. We told him about Beaufort and SC and how God had called our group from across the state (and NC, Ms. Carolyn) to travel to Vancouver to share His message there. Our conversation continued for a while and then it turned to prayer concerns. This young man then shared with us a very recent diagnosis of cancer and how God was using it in his life to make him stronger and to glorify the Father. He then talked of future plans, depending on what route the cancer takes, and how that God knows what is ahead and will continue to use it for good. And then, before we could offer to pray for him, he offered to pray for us and proceeded to lift us before the throne. After finishing, Pat was able to pray for him and we hugged, shook hands and boarded our individual planes, knowing we had been among family!!! Please lift this young man up to our father, for ministry opportunties and for God's healing in his life, whatever form that needs to take.

Our second encounter was on the airplane from Charlotte to Dallas, where a young lady from Greenville was heading to San Diego to spend a few days with her soon to be husband, to house hunt!!! A very exciting time. As she and Robin began to share, she told of her relationship with Christ and of her desire for her and her fiance' to be "on the same page" in this area of their lives. Robin was able to share with her and continue to build a relationship during the entire flight, promising to pray for her and her future husband and all that God has for them. Again, felt like spending time with family!!!

So, no, we are not "at the olympics" yet, but is God moving and working all around us? Oh yes!!! Is He teaching us to be on mission every moment of every day!!! Most assuredly!!! Has this been an incredible day of travel?!!! Well, after reading this, what do you think?!! :) Thanks, as always, for your prayers and support. May God stir in your heart to reach out to those around you, as He stirs our hearts to do the same on every step of this journey!!!!

Serving together,

Larry