119- Following God’s Trail – #1

Many times in our walks with God, Dan and I have followed a vision that we have believed we have received from the Lord. One of the first ones was Dan hearing from the Lord that I could be his wife. I have chronicled our experience in blogs 24-31.

Dan’s goal was to get more Biblical training before we embarked on our missionary venture to Japan. That goal was formulated from our experiences when we visited Japan and Dan had the realization that we were not prepared to do the spiritual warfare that would be required to live there.

Later it was reinforced by watching Peace Child, Don Richardson’s  missionary story. Dan was very impacted by it.

I have also mentioned the Lord’s word through our friend, Paul (blog 116), that we send our application to Elim and begin the process of admission.

In my 1984 journaling, I was using a 3-ring binder. I kept a separate section which I called THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADING TO OUR DEPARTURE. The next ten blogs chronicle how God was speaking to us in our devotions, in the circumstances, through friends, through the prophetic word. We were sure that God was clearly directing our steps and that within a month or two we would be on our way to New York.

Spoiler: We suffered a huge disappointment in that we did not make the trip that winter, or spring, OR SUMMER as we had expected but God had us delay TWO WHOLE YEARS! Of course we saw the wisdom in the delay in hindsight.

Yet the 6-month faith journey became and adventure in following the Holy Spirit’s leading. His ways are mysterious. He wanted us to learn more about hearing His voice, trusting Him, and especially learning to work with the Body of believers. We were both very independent and self-sufficient, but those aren’t character traits He admires. He needed to humble us, because there is till the day we die, always pride that creeps in and needs to be acknowledged and repented of. Who knows what else He had in His mind. Obedience to Jesus is always worth it even if it does not bring what we had envisioned, and even if we seem to be taking a twisting country road rather than the freeway.

January 8, 1984 –Dan gave reference letter forms to two of the church elders.

Jan 9 –From Dan’s notes I typed his application to Elim Bible Institute, Lima, New York. And we sent it off.

Jan 12 — Believing the Bible School had missionaries in Japan, we sent a letter to Elim Fellowship, the missionary sending agency associated with the Bible school, requesting a missionary appointment from them and housing in Japan. (We learned later that it was a rather audacious request.)

Jan 13 – Our very good friends, Danny & Lynn, wanted to buy our solar house. We looked at the paperwork and discussed the sale.

Jan 15 – Dan gave Danny money to begin the loan process.

Jan 16 – In my devotions: John 4:5 The woman of Samaria could bring others to Christ because of her experience with Him firsthand.  Then, Pastor said yesterday, “We need to experience Jesus.” Yes! Jesus lifted all of my relocation cares off of me as I came to Him with crying during worship and received prayer and counsel from Dan.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. Georgann, give God your heart again.

Bruce Mc told Dan my heart must be with missions and be in the vision, too, or it won’t work. Dan was asked by Pastor Dave to be an elder for the second time. He said there had been a unanimous vote by current elders. Dan prayed and later said yes.

Jan  17 – Dan went to the Pastoral Meeting at church and HH, one of the elders, counseled Dan NOT to sell everything and give the money away, as had been our plan. Surprisingly, we both had peace about that.