Proverbios 16:9

"El corazón del hombre traza su rumbo, pero sus pasos los dirige el Señor."
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
 
Little did I know after writing that last text post about love and sacrifice how real this would become in my life.  

My plans this week were to be in Monterrey, Mexico with a team of about 60 people from my church; working, serving, and loving on the abandoned children in the homes partnered with Back 2 Back Ministries.

God's plans... are turning out to be a lot different. Because of Hurricane Alex (see the video in my most recent post) our large group trip had to be canceled. But a small team of 6 men from my church was assembled to go down and bring relief to the hurting areas partnered with Back 2 Back. My husband was one of those who was asked to go. He is on his way now, and they should be landing in Monterrey in about an hour.

When Ian told me about this small group going down and that he was asked to be a part of it, I had no reservations about him going... however, it breaks my heart that I can't be going, too. Mexico has been on my heart for about 5 years now and I do feel a calling to go and be there; working, serving, loving... I know God has gifted me with the language and a love for the culture. Now that they are in a time of crisis, I want to be there more than ever.

But that's not God's plan for me. Even six months ago, as we were making arrangements for this trip, God knew... that this was His plan. This tragedy would happen and 6 of them would go, instead of 60. It would have been an act of absolute ugly selfishness for me to tell Ian he couldn't go if I couldn't go with him. I was faced with a situation to love my God and my husband more than I love myself.
I know that God is sovereign in all of this. I know that God has things for me to learn from this that I couldn't learn any other way. He has a much greater purpose and plan than anything we could have come up with on our own.

So for now, I pray for Monterrey and the other areas of Mexico that have been effected by the hurricane. I pray for the safety of the "Riverview 6" as they are traveling and working down there. I pray for endurance with the work that is set before them; humble hearts as they step into this chaotic situation; that they would be leaning and depending on God's strength and power to accomplish their work.

Amen.