Hidden Treasures

My trip to Florida has been full of hidden treasures.  I will be very honest with all of you and let you know the night before I left for Florida, I did not want to go.  I was having a pity party for myself.  I wanted to stay in Michigan and be with my family and friends.  I wanted to be able to enjoy the space I live in, instead of staying in someone's guest room.  I now know why I felt this way, Satan did not want me to be in Florida.

I arrived last week in Sarasota and was able to make some potential contacts there.  It was fun to share Beautiful Gate with people who did not know anything about it.  I pray that the relationship with those I met with will grow into partners in ministry.

Thursday I drove from Sarasota to Gainesville.  I love a good road trip, so I enjoyed being in the car alone and the down time it brought.  I knew that Gainesville was going to be full of appointments, so the car ride was a time for me to turn the radio on and get pumped up for what would happen.  I figured it would be an easy 6 days and I would be ready to fly back home after everything was said and done.  I was wrong.  During the last six days I have found some pretty sweet hidden treasures in Gainesville and because of that, I am sad that I am leaving tomorrow.

Here are a few of the treasures...

On Saturday I went to a 3 year old's birthday party.  The birthday girl was excited for the pirate party her grandmother had planned.  Part of the party included a hunt for buried treasure.  The treasure was presented to me as a gift for Beautiful Gate.  Yesterday I cashed in over $200 worth of coins that were in a plastic bag.  God is so good!

Throughout this week, I have presented to many different groups.  With each presentation, I pray that I don't loose the excitement of sharing stories of the children of Beautiful Gate.  With each presentation, God has grown in me the desire to make sure I am continuing to share the stories.  When I stand in front of a group of people and I watch the light bulbs go off and see them becoming affected by God's story, I know I did my job.  I am amazed at how many people have already stepped up to the plate and are supporting Beautiful Gate before I have even left town.  Last night when I asked if there were any questions to the group I was speaking to, they just starting brainstorming out loud how they were going to share Beautiful Gate with others.  At that point, I just quietly sat back in my chair and let the Spirit take over.  God is so good!

I am staying with some pretty cool people and when I say pretty cool, I mean amazing.  Some times, it is hard living in other people's houses.  You never want to do anything or not to something that could offend your hosts.  This week, I don't have that problem.  I have had great conversations out on the front porch with people that understand thinking outside of the box.  I have had conversations with people that are putting their faith in action in ways that I would have never even thought of in regards to Beautiful Gate.  I have met two ladies that I pray our relationship and conversations continue to grow, because being with them gives me glimpses of Heaven.  I never thought that when I left Gainesville, I would be leaving friends, but that is what has happened.  God has given me friends here that I enjoy being with and talking to.  He has blessed me with a family that loves the children of Beautiful Gate and for some strange reason, me as well.  God is good!

Thank you Florida for showing me what southern hospitality is all about.  Thank you Meringer and Heiberg families for hosting me.  Thank you to the numerous people that attended presentations and had your heart opened up to Lesotho.  Thank you to people who have caught the vision so much, that they wanted to attend multiple presentations, just to hear the stories.  Thank you to my new friends who hold a special place in my heart.  Our journeys are not the same, but our desire to love children is.  May God continue to bless you and shine His face upon you.  May He overfill you with His amazing hope, so that you can go out and share His hope to the world around you.