The hotel that I have been staying at is a blessing. I was asking the Lord if I needed to move out of this location into something that would be more “economical”. Not that I had anything impressed upon my heart or that that this is a 5 star resort, but being here being alone increases the costs. I was using my thinking on wanting to be a good steward, so I put it up in prayer.

The next night the answer came. I had a call to go and meet my transportation driver, Bola. A porter, Henry, walked me over to the transportation station to wait for Bola’s return. Henry is a Spirit filled believer and we were having a conversation about setting up sometime for me to minister at a service for his church. Another Spirit filled believer, Renpeni, joined our conversation. 3 young men (Jorge, Timmi and Elijah), who work in activities approached the station. Timmi was limping and wincing. I asked what happened. He explained that he had just broken his ankle. He sat down. I asked if I could pray for his ankle and he said yes. I first asked if Timmi knew Jesus as a healer. He said he believed Jesus could heal him. I then asked about eternal life. All three of them said they did not know if they would go to heaven. They prayed to receive Jesus as Lord and be filled with the Spirit. I then prayed for Timmi’s ankle to be healed in the name of Jesus. Timmi stood up and started hopping on his foot. Thank you Lord Jesus our Healer. Father, You demonstrated your goodness in the Land of the Living.

Later in prayer I was reminded that if I would have moved to what I thought was a better (more economical) place, the encounter would not have happened. DO NOT QUESTION the place Lord has put me. I am right where He wants me to be. Being a good steward is working with what He’s given (again abounding and abasing). Just continue to seek and obey what He’s directing me to do. He’ll cover the additional costs.

There have been days that I really desire to have a conversation with someone who can really understand some of what I’m experiencing. The culture and way of life are so different, I want to talk about it. Just because we live different ways of life does not mean one is better than the other.. It’s just different. I’ve had many conversations with the One who understands all to help me with the differences in order to minister more effectively. Prayers for insight for understanding have been important.
I’ve seen things that we would consider “lack”, but that may not be the case.

I have a multitude of Choices.. Back home, I’d be trying to decide what color of shirt or which shoes I wanted to wear for the day. Here, I have limited choices. A few shirts and skirts and I wash nightly ~ what I am wearing is determined by what is DRY the next day (ok I do have to match). And I only have 3 pairs of shoes (sandals, hiking shoes, and flip-flops), I find myself in my sandals most of the time as all shoes come off at the door of houses ~ so much for indoor shoes ~ they are now all outdoor shoes!!!!!! (I do realize that the weather is changing back in home, so I’ll need socks when I return!!!!)

When it comes to food, diets may not have as many choices: Fruits (with flavor that makes eating fruits back home a bland experience), veggies and chicken or fish. Most meals end with cookies and tea. Even though the meals consist of the same types of food each time, preparation gives the variety. Curry, tomato and coconut milk are the three food flavors that are used most. JC ~ I ate prawns that were amazing ~ a tomato curry and I don’t think I’d be able to repeat it. We have many many choices of what we want to eat. Yes, some of what they eat is determined by the fact that the income does not provide them with the ability to afford a varied diet.

It can be considered a “lack of choices”, but the Lord has shown me that it shows that all choices are limited ~ even back home I sometimes think I really don’t have a wide variety of choices when I truly do.

Lack is a part of an attitude ~ How we look at and show our thankfulness in all circumstances to the Lord (abounding and abasing) will either expand or limit our choices. The Lord has prospered me. I will not take a poverty mentality and I am fully thankful for the blessing of God in my life. He’s the one that has taken me by the hand and led me step by step to believe for and receive what He has made available for me. With a grateful heart, He has expanded my choices..When those choices become too much, (more than we have room for), we are to be a blessing to others.

The ministry has been sharing that we are not to wait for what we think “abundance”is to be a blessing, rather to continue to be thankful for what He’s provided for us now and be led to be a blessing with what we have. It is the proper attitude that will take each of us into a deeper capacity to receive more. We despise what the Lord has provided for us as not good enough by skipping right over at what we have been given. We are to have an expectation on what is to come, but we a can not develop an ungrateful attitude ~ An attitude that has taken on an attitude of Lack (not having on hand) and not all sufficiency in all things(what is available to us). Phil 4:11-12.

I meet Mike (a brit) and Maggie (a scott). They are on a world tour. They ask why I’m there. I’m on a mission thus I’m a missionary. Mike’s response was one that saddened my heart. He talked about how the entire worlds problems were because of religion. If God would just be forgotten, there would be no problems. I told him that man has taken religion and turned it into a form of control and power. But You, Father, love us and want a relationship with us. Mike asked if my goal was to “convert” everyone on the island. I share that the converting is not up to me, but rather up to Lord. It is a conversation in Love ~ I saw how easy it would have been easy to step over to debate Mike intellectually and back him into a corner. But we avoid conversations that gender strife ~ pointing people to the Cross and talk about Your goodness in the earth today. Maggie asked me how long I was to be in Fiji. I told them until I finish all the appointments that the Lord has for me. Maggie’s reply, “maybe she’s here for us dear.” Mike laughed and said he’s alright. My heart is saddened and I pray for them to know You.

The Lord heart of love: The next day, You prompt me to read Galatians in The Message bible starting with the preface. It is just what Mike, Maggie and I were talking about the day before ~ man using religion as a form of control and how it is Your love that you desire us to know and experience a free life. My prayers are for an opportunity to share this with them.

The Spirit of the Lord draws. Thank you Lord!!! I finish breakfast Mike & Maggie come over. Mike asks me if I’ve converted the entire island yet. I laugh and then was able to share what the preface to Galatians said and how it was fascinating that I was prompted to read what we were just having a discussion about. Mike said, “really I’m not a skeptic.” But inside, I know both of them truly do not know your love!!! I sense a hunger in Maggie. I’m thankful for how you work, as he who receives me receives the One Who sent me. Your Spirit touched both of them. When I finished reading Mike had tears in his eyes and Maggie was hanging on all the Words. I gave Mike the bible. He told me that I did not need to do that, I said I had more and to consider it my gift. He was thankful.

An inside heart note: 1 Sam 16:7
There are many supernatural things God will do that are not outwardly spectacular. Thank you Lord for showing me how You are working! In ending our conversations, we realized that I originally was on the same flight out to LA. Mike asked if the Lord told me not to get on the Plane!! Only the Lord can show how Mike’s heart was reaching out to know and trust IN HIM and His leadings. I said, yes the Lord told me not to get on the plane, but it was because I needed to stay longer for further work and not an alarm. Lord, let this be your entrance into their lives to put your love deep into their hearts. In Jesus Name!

HAPPY BRITHDAY Little Boo! Sweet Pea you are 4 years old today and are commissioned to the world! My prayers over you are for you to walk in the fullness of the call and not miss a step. For the Spirit of the Lord to further lead and guide you. May you continue yielding to what He’s directing you to do! In Jesus name! We will have another birthday party when I return!

Adventures don’t always seem to go the way you anticipate. I had to make a trip to the airport in Nadi and needed transportation. My Spirit Filled Friend, Emori said he’d help me with my needs. He prayed a quick prayer then told me to meet him by the road. I first thought that I’d be going by mini van for the 2 1/2 hour drive. Emori flagged down a commercial truck that was going my direction. The two men in the truck listened to Emori’s instructions then said let’s go. I got in the truck ~ call it a chariot that was first class~ for the first part of the journey. Both men prayed to receive Jesus. When we got into to the town of Sigatoga, Herman (the driver), pulled up to an ice cream stand and dropped me off. He told me that that is where my next ride was awaiting. Both men thanked me for riding in a “truck” that day ~ for their eternal destiny was secured. Is there a transport going to Nadi with that ice cream? As funny as it sounds, that really was the question. A taxi driver told me he was driving to a destination beyond where I needed to go, but would be glad to take me with him & the OTHER PASSENGERS…. Peace once again led me as I got into a taxi with 4 locals. As we made the drive, all of them received Jesus. We then had conversations about the plans and purposes for each of their lives. By the time I arrived at the airport, these 4 guys did not want me to leave~ they wanted more of the Lord. They expressed their gratitude and joy for the message they had been given. I had arrived early (if that is possible here!) and did some “shopping” in the shops at the airport. I met a number of people who were just waiting to hear the message. After completing my business, I needed transportation back. I found an express bus stand and got a ticket.
The 2 1/2 hour ride was wonderful. I actually got to go through the city of Nadi and see the everyday life. It is a different way of life for each of us. But what is so evident is it still is a life that needs to be guaranteed eternally… When I arrived back at the hotel, I was asked of the staff was that you that Emori put in a truck? Opportunity for the gospel to continue to go forth.