God Speaks....

A few months ago we had Pastor Wes Bentley visit our church. I was so excited! His ministry is Far Reaching Ministries in the Sudan. One day I will share more about this courageous soldier for Christ. After the service we had the opportunity to speak with him. He fell in love with Hannah. He said his brother and his family are missionaries in China (CONTACT) and work with the orphans. I was so excited! I asked him their information but he couldn't think of it. Told me to call his office here in the states and they would give me his brothers contact information. (What parents these two men of God must have) Then I asked him, "How do you know? How do you know if it is God calling you? If it is Him that has put this consuming, burning desire in your heart to travel to China and minister and share the truth of Jesus with her people?" He kind of laughed and he said, "You take short mission trips... then, if the feeling doesn't go away. You KNOW it is from God and you go!" Well, with the kids (Hannah) it will prove difficult to do this for me... but I will see. There is talk in our church of going to the Sudan next year to work with Pastor Wes. I have to tell you that it will about kill me to not go on this trip if they go.... I have had a heart for Africa since I was a teenager. But, I also know this is something to pray about continuously. For if it is not God calling me and I go it just might kill me. And even if it is I could still die. For me this is ok but for my babies..... I do not want to leave them with out their mama... so please pray for God's will. Jeremy doesn't want me to go on this trip of coarse. But he says if God calls me then I will go.

Anyway....... I kept putting off contacting Pastor Wes' headquarters to get his brother's info. Not sure why other than that I am a procrastinator. Well, my birthday rolls around..... the yearning in my heart to go to China is so strong it is constant. Well, the Lord had been talking to me daily and so had the defeated one..... I can't remember everything that was transpiring but I once again came to the point that there was NO WAY that Jesus could use us as full time missionaries... (I am beginning to see that this is the FLESH! For my God is bigger than my sins, my shortcomings, He is bigger than ME!) So, I was on a low.

(Brown eyed girl is playing and Hannah is dancing with her baby doll pressed up to her cheek like they are dancing the tango... her favorite dance to dance with Mama.... life is sweet...)

Well, my April sent me a birthday gift! I opened the box and found a book, "Saving Levi" and a movie "The Inn of Sixth Happiness". I was so excited. I began to read the book.... it is about this precious little boy who was BADLY burned and abandoned in a field to die in China. He was found and this American family that had begun an orphanage in China took him in and fell in love with him.... it is about God's plan in the life of this family and for little Levi. Well, I began to read about the Bentley family something kept trying to get my attention..... peck, peck, peck.... knock , knock, knock.... hello...... don't you see it Daleea..... something familiar here.... Bentley, Bentley, that is sooooo familiar. Wes Bentley! so, I delve into the book, searching for info, and there it is.... the pieces come together..... this is Pastor Wes, Bentley's brother and his family in China! I didn't contact them so God worked through April to have them contact me! Less than a month since talking with Pastor Wes! Is that You Lord? It simply must be! To big for a coincidence! Confirmation! (No, I still haven't contacted them. lol but I will and I know I will do it right when the Lord knows I will and it will be great to see if He is going to work through them to bring us to China, you never know. ( I also wanted to add that they were not experienced missionaries. He took his family for 3 months. He told his wife if she did not want to stay, if she did not love and feel called to China after 3 months that they would come home.... they are still there!)
The Inn of Sixth Happiness........ April, I have not told you I think.... but oh, how God has used this movie in our lives! Kristy had lovingly told me before that I have to allow the Holy Spirit to work on my husband's heart. That it was not my place to convince my husband to go to China. Well, I do share with him my heart's desire.... but, Holy Spirit has moved in his heart in a big way and He has used this movie to touch Jeremy's heart, over and over and over and over again! He has watched this movie probably 12 + times. sometimes has it playing two or three times in a row.... He has been saying things like, "When are we leaving?! I am ready to be a full time missionary in China!" "Lord, is that You?" "My precious little one.... how could it not be? Yes, child, it is Me and I have a plan for your family...."
"Here we are Lord, Send us!"