Finally! Aboard a plane to attend our first week of training in Berrien Springs, 11 months since we heard God calling us to be missionaries and four months since we learned of AFM, we were in high spirits even though the sun was not yet up. Before we left home, AFM had told us we might run into another missionary family on our flight from Chicago to Indiana. We could not remember their names and did not know what they looked like.

As the hours slowly passed, our destination seemed so far away. Our daughter Sophia had motion sickness and was asking for her fourth or fifth sack tucked behind each seat. Anastasia, whom we lovingly call Babers, was tired and bored and did NOT want to be sitting next to her sister. Teddy was sitting next to the girls, trying to manage them while I sat across the aisle, feeling congested, body aching.

As we landed in Chicago, we noticed Sophia’s foot was so swollen from a bee sting the day before that she could hardly walk. As we waited for a wheelchair to travel what seemed like several miles to our gate, I felt terrible and was having an internal spiritual battle. I kept telling Teddy to pray for me.

We finally made it to our gate, and I immediately found a bench where I could lie down. Next to the bench sat an Asian woman with her head down on the table. I quietly lay down beside her and prayed for relief. As I surrendered the trip to God, I heard a quiet internal voice say, “Ask her to pray for you.”

“No way!” I immediately responded. “Awkward!” This battle went on for a few minutes until her husband and two boys returned with their lunch. Realizing the voice may be the Holy Spirit, I then said, “Lord, I want to obey you. If they pray before they eat, I will ask her for prayer.” As soon as I said that, they bowed their heads to pray for their meal.

Sitting up, I asked, “Would you pray for me? I am a missionary candidate and not feeling well.”

She looked at me with wide eyes and said, “We are missionary candidates!”

We all looked at each other in awe. God had given an awesome reminder that He was going to be with us throughout this journey. Beginning to end, good times and bad, it would ALL be for His glory.

We appreciate your partnership beyond measure. Thank you for hearing God’s call to give. We cannot wait to meet new friends in Croatia and share our testimonies with them.

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