God's Goodness

Guest Contributor Mandi again with an update for the August 2012 Kenya trip

I am overwhelmed at the Lord’s goodness and blessing for this trip!  Last year I experienced a miracle from God to raise the funds needed to go to Kenya in one week and in my mind I knew that since God did that last year, he could certainly provide for this year (especially since I knew it was his will for me to go again).  My faith grew with last year’s provision but I really questioned if God would do this two years in a row.  How much more should I trust him now that he has abundantly answered these prayers?  Taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8

Initially, my expenses were calculated to be around $2800.  Like last year, I prayed for wisdom when it came to what needed to be purchased and for costs to be lower.  After God answering that prayer in several ways, the expenses came down to about $2700 (some went way lower but a few others went a bit higher but with an overall decrease!).  Here is one example of how this prayer was answered.

I called several places around town to find the best deal possible to get the second Hepatitis A shot.  I had the first one last year but was told I still needed the second in the series.  The place I used last year would charge $94 for the shot and $25 for the visit.  None of this is covered by insurance.  Many of the places I called said $94 for the shot but much more for the visit.  I delayed getting this done and kept praying for wisdom and lower costs. 

I went to visit my family in Florida for what my brother calls the “in-case-I-never-see-you-again-visit.”  While down there I know it was God who gave me the idea to check the cost of the shot in that area.  Thanks to God (and Google) I found that the county health department charges a flat $50 for the shot!  Can you believe that?!  A savings of over half!!  What an answer to prayer, and God gets the praise for it! To top it all off, my sweet mommy ending up paying for it!

All of this makes it so evident God is involved in this trip and blessing it.  To date $3075 has been raised.  This means that right now there is almost $400 to purchase Bibles, shoes, food, and more to bless the people of Mbitini.  

God provides for this Pastor (right) with corn given to those who attend the Jubilee