Surprises from God

I have to add a second entry today because something really cool happened this afternoon and this evening.

Over the past two weeks I have been preparing myself to write another email to my supporters. You may ask yourself why I need to prepare for two weeks to write an email. It's because I have to be in the mood to write. Otherwise I spend all day trying to write and it still doesn't sound good. If I prepare and have everything in mind that I want to say, then when the day comes that I am in a writing mood, the words flow out just right.

So far that day hasn't come. I hope it will come soon. In the meantime I have a mental list of what I need to say in the letter.

One of the things that's been on my mind for the email is fundraising. I need to find a creative way to meet new people and get additional supporters. Today I prayed a lot about that. I read 1 & 2 Corinthians this morning. Paul talked about having to ask for support. He didn't seem really comfortable with it either. But he knew he had to do it. Reading about Paul thinking about his own provision gave me some comfort.

For a long time I felt like I should write letters to two specific people and ask for their support. One of those people happened to be on Facebook today. I started chatting with her and asked if she could help me out financially. She immediately said, "Yes, tell me what you need." Wow. I never expected that response. Clearly I was supposed to ask her for help.

This evening at prayer group I told them about reaching out to my friend and having her respond so positively. Later, during prayer, Pastor Paysen prayed for provision for me.

When I got home there was an email which came completely out of the blue. It is from a couple who are making a generous donation!

I love when God comes through so clearly and quickly. First He blessed me through my friend. Then He gave me a special bonus this evening in the email! He went above and beyond for me today. It feels like a confirmation that I am on the right path. I'm a lot more hopeful about future fundraising.

I told some friends about letting the dog strew my garbage all over the street. They laughed at me, but not as I expected - for allowing the dog to make a mess. They laughed at how much pain I obviously felt for that dog. And they also laughed when I said that it looked at me with the sweetest eyes. They are not used to stray dogs having "sweet eyes".

I took a big step forward in assimilation to Honduran culture by becoming a crazy mopper. But having my heart hurt over a stray dog has bumped me back a notch or two.

Fany is outside of the city with her husband's family. She planned to come home today, but now she can't. Her cousin's husband and kids were shot and killed this morning. Apparently it's all over the news. I haven't seen the news today. Fany is understandably upset. She doesn't normally get upset. She didn't go to the calling hours tonight because it is too unsafe, but she is going to the burial tomorrow morning.