Traveling to Australia and New Zealand had always been on our bucket list for many years. However, the dream of actually going seemed futile since Myrna was experiencing severe back pain. Nothing brought any relief. Even though it was a difficult time, she still wanted us to host a God Stories Christmas Breakfast Dec. 9, 2023 in our Los Fresnos home. At its conclusion the participants helped clean up by placing the folding chairs in the garage.
The next morning, Myrna tripped over the chairs. As she started falling, her thoughts were “Oh no! Lord, I don’t want to break anything and be worse off!” Standing up, she excitedly exclaimed, “The pain is all gone! Thank You, Jesus!”
The following week the doctor said, "Myrna, God gave you an adjustment!"
A few weeks later I asked, “Would you like to travel to Australia and New Zealand for next year’s Christmas and stop in Hawaii on the way to and from there?”
A glimmer of the old Myrna, the one with unyielding zeal, excitedly yelled, “YES!”
This was truly a gift from the Lord! He opened this door not only to fulfill our dream, but for us to
also see this as a “God Stories Mission Trip”. Therefore, we packed God Stories booklets with a “Rising Out of Addiction” rack card inserted inside each booklet. During our 10-day New Zealand cruise, we met people from all walks of life. As we distributed the booklets/rack cards, we felt like we were sowing seeds of faith, hope, and love. There was one cruise ship worker from Indonesia who hugged the booklet/rack card tightly to his chest and with closed eyes, fervently said, “Thank you. Thank you so very much! These will be my bedtime stories!” Tears welled up in our eyes as we observed his genuine, heartfelt gratitude. We knew that the Holy Spirit would work in the hearts of those who received them, and that was all that mattered. We didn't need to see the fruits of our labor; we just needed to be obedient to God's calling.
And as we settle back into our daily routine, we are reminded that every day is a mission trip, an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with those around us. So, we'll keep packing our booklets and rack cards, and more importantly, our hearts with a purpose, ready to embark on the next adventure that God has in store for us.
"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4
Gayle Brogdon
Los Fresnos, Texas
Comments