August 8, 2005 - Perfect Timing

**************Cliff notes available at post bottom*****************************

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecc 3:1


For months now Micah and I have been planning and preparing to go to Brazil. Our target date to be there was July 20th which has come and gone. We do not always understand God’s timing, but we are learning that it is perfect! Thinking of leaving for a year I found myself wanting to see my parents, to go home, hug my mom and dad and spend time in Alaska as a family before we left. My Mom has been praying everyday this summer that she would be able to see us before we leave. Unfortunately there just did not seem to be any way for that to work out. We had things to do, places to be, responsibilities here in Oregon, and our time was limited before we were “planning” to leave for Brazil. Documents for my visa were in the hands of the consulate in San Francisco and we kept expecting to hear any day that it was in the mail to us. Days went by, weeks went by, July 20th went by… nothing. During all this time we were praying for God’s leading, for patience and for peace while we waited. It was hard to understand why we were still in Oregon, we felt sure that God was leading us to Brazil and on our end we were very ready to go. But God was asking us to wait.
Monday the 25th of July I went for a morning walk with my friend Kim. I had shared with her several times before my desire to see my family, and that morning we again lifted it to God in prayer. I came home and talked to Micah, he said; “Well Marla, give it a shot and see what you can find available with our frequent flyer miles.” Now, the chances of available frequent flyer seats to Anchorage, AK in July (peak fishing season) are next to none. So we prayed, and I, trying not to get my hopes up, called Alaska Airlines. Within 15 minutes, and much to our dismay I had two tickets on hold for that Wednesday. We talked about it and since we were still waiting for my visa realized that there really was nothing that we had to do that could not be done over the phone or email from my parents house.
I called my Dad and coaxed him out of the house to tell him we were coming so the whooping and hollering would not tip off Mom. I really wanted to surprise her. With a day and a half notice Dad did a stellar job. Wednesday morning he kidnapped Mom for a getaway day (which he’d been threatening to do for a week) and they headed north. When they arrived in Anchorage, Dad took Mom to her favorite fabric store and told her she had and hour to spend while he arranged things for the remainder of their “getaway.” He raced to the airport and met us, took us to a nearby store and with all our luggage we hid out on a bench. Dad went and picked up Mom and brought her to the store where we were waiting and the surprise was perfect! She was totally amazed and couldn’t believe that we were there.
Micah and I spent a fabulous week in Alaska. I am always blessed to go home and this time was especially sweet because it was so unexpected, and such an obvious answer to many prayers. We caught silver salmon on the Homer Spit, hung sheet rock in my Dad’s new shop, had dinner with family friends, and just enjoyed each others company.
Last August when we were in Homer, we spoke at my home church. It was the first of many churches and people that we spoke to over the last year. At that time as a church they joined our ministry team with commitment to pray and to give financially. So Dad asked us to give an update on Sunday. We shared and showed our DVD. After church we received a wonderful blessing in the response from people. We’ve shared at many churches and this was the most positive response we’ve ever had. God moved and people responded to Him. We had four new commitments for monthly support and prayer. And many people who expressed their interest. We were blessed with the outpouring of love and much needed support. God’s timing is perfect! It’s pretty neat that they were the first church we spoke in and the last (lord willing) before leaving for Brazil.
We are back in Oregon now and still waiting for my visa to come so we can get tickets to Brazil. It’s hard to wait, but we both have peace in our spirits that we are right where God wants us to be today. Micah and I have always said that our calling is not specifically to “missions” but to “follow God.” That means wherever He leads and whenever He says it’s time to go. We ask for your prayers as we wait, that this time would be used for His glory, that His purpose and plan would be carried out in a way that honors Him and that we grow closer to Him and one another in this time of waiting. When He does say GO, we want to be ready
I’m so thankful that His timing in perfect. I thank Him for the time to see my folks, to go home, to see the look on my moms face when she saw us, to be loved on and to love, to be blessed and to bless, to catch fish and eat fish, to make new friends and visit old ones, to work as a family, to squeeze into neoprene waders, to cook with my Mom, to see people respond to God and get excited about missions, to enjoy sunsets at 11:30pm, to watch Micah give my Mom computer lessons, to give and to receive, to pray and see an answer, to wait and see God’s purpose.
In Him,
Micah and Marla


**************************Cliff notes for Perfect Timing********************
• We are still in Oregon
• Waiting is HARD, but God’s timing is perfect
• We hopped a flight to Alaska with Frequent Flyer miles and surprised my mom
• Spent a wonderful week visiting and fishing and fellowshipping in AK
• Spoke at my home church which was the first church we spoke at about a year ago
• People responded to God and we received some much needed support
• We are so thankful for the blessing of our time in AK and for God’s timing in having us there
• We as for prayer as we wait on my visa, remaining funds to come in and final clearance from headquarters.