"God is always calling us to do the impossible."

I have felt a draw to go to Africa for quite a few years . . . but it wasn’t until after moving down to Portland (on June 30^th 2012) that I began to feel that the time for my Africa trip was coming soon.

Feeling this growing anticipation I took it upon myself to write to the orphanage from the movie Angels In The Dust (on Netflix- highly recommended) in August 2012 and unbelievably 2 days later they wrote back that they do take volunteers!!

I was very excited . . . this movie is an amazing story of one family’s passion for helping children and teens deal with the devastating blow AIDS has taken on the people of South Africa. So I wrote to the orphanage again in December asking them how I go about volunteering there for this upcoming summer in 2013 and they never responded to that email. This was discouraging; as well as all winter long I was plagued with ear infections and an assortment of health issues. 

Then on January 2^nd I fell down some stairs at work and almost broke my arm. I was carrying Mr Potato Head and his various parts in one hand in a blue bucket in the other hand I was balancing the cups I just washed that the children use daily.

I landed on top of the blue bucket and on my wrist. Cups and Mr. Potato Head parts went flying down the hall in all directions. Thankfully by this time school was over for the day but there were people (Patty) still in the office who heard my yelp as I rolled down the stairs.   

Physically I was very sore and bruised but even worse I was emotionally discouraged and frustrated about not making any headway on plans to go to Africa.

So on January 6^th I texted Laura, my bff who lives in Washington.   

“My school is having a meeting about the summer- Looks like Africa is out. Makes me sad. Hopefully next summer.”

Laura texted back: “Why is Africa out?”

January 7^th at 8:54 AM I texted:

“Morning Laur- Right now Africa seem impossible to me- I'm not in the best of health, I haven't heard from the orphanage, Paul is very hesitant to let me go, not sure about the money part and a few other details. But your question got me thinking.

This weekend I read: "God is always calling us to do the impossible." I think He is calling me to do the impossible. I have heard -if there is one person who believes in your dreams with you- that makes all the difference in the world. Thank you for believing in my dream.” 

On the same day just a few minutes later at 9:27AM I texted:

“Just saw a billboard- It said “Live your dreams”!!

The next day on January 8^th I attended a staff meeting at my Preschool. There my boss Kim asked me what my plans were for summer. I told her I want to go to Africa and she said “Oh you want to go on Safari?” I answered, “No I want to work with AIDS orphans, although I don’t know who with, or how.” She then said “Oh that’s like Natalie and her church.” I said, “Who is Natalie and can I have her phone number?” Kim explained that she use to work with Natalie and she’d give Natalie my phone number.

Not too long after that Natalie called and told me her church Abundant Life – about 10 miles from our home- was hosting an informational meeting on January 27^th, and although she had been to Uganda many times before she wouldn’t be able to travel there this year, but she would be happy to meet me at the informational meeting. She answered many of my questions and told me I could call or email her any more questions I might have.

Paul wasn’t so certain about the whole thing until he came with me to that first meeting and realized these were real Christians (not a cult) and they truly cared about the orphans . . . and had years of experience traveling to Uganda.

  

Last thoughts: God is always calling us to do the impossible . . . what is He calling you to do dear friend? And maybe there is someone in your life who needs encouragement and faith in the dream God has given them and right now they are running on empty . . . or maybe You are the one who needs faith that God is big enough to do this crazy amazing thing. Well, I want to ask you one thing . . . Why not?