I’ve been walking with God a long time now but He still surprises me.
A couple of months ago I started feeling like He was urging me to find out more about Compassion International. I have always heard good things about this group but I felt like the Lord was telling me to investigate ways that our could partner with them.
I have a friend that pastors a church that is very involved with Compassion International so I decided that I needed to schedule a meeting with him to learn more. Sadly, I never got around to it due to my busy schedule but it was on my task list and I knew that it was just a matter of time.
Then, one day the Lord told me in my prayer time that He was going to have someone contact me about a trip or something. I wasn’t sure about the specifics but I thought the God meant that somebody was going to ask me to meet them locally or perhaps even in a distant land like Alabama.
The very next day I got asked out of the blue if I was interested in going to Tanzania to learn more about the work Compassion International is doing there. I had very little details and I had to respond rather quickly but the moment I heard CI mentioned I knew this was the Lord’s doing.
I prayed about it for about 60 seconds and quickly discussed it with Amy who enthusiastically agreed I should go. I then informed the pastor that extended the invitation that I knew I was supposed to go.
The weird thing is that I know very little about the trip. Who else is going? I know a couple of names but that’s it. What will you be doing there? I don’t really know other than the fact that I’ll be seeing what CI does there. What town or towns will you visit? I don’t know. What I do know is that I now have a plane ticket to Tanzania and God is in the whole thing. (I also know I need to get some shots before I leave but I’m choosing not to dwell on that part too much.)
I’m genuinely excited about this God-ordained trip and I can’t wait to see what He does in me through it. I’m also very excited about how this might spur a great partnership between CI and Fusion.
I leave at the end of September and I will, of course, keep you all updated here.
Tanzania, here I come.
That is so very cool! I am excited about you learning more about Compassion International too. I can’t wait to hear more about this trip.
Thanks, Angie. It’s very exciting. I just need to get my visa and shots now. :)
Pastor Tony this sounds like such an amazing opportunity! I am so excited for you and will pray for your safe return.
Alicia
Thank you for your prayers, Alicia. I think this is going to be a great trip.
Bring it! Bring it! How exciting and wonderful and most importantly GOD DIRECTED! I got chills reading about your foreshadowing…really, really cool stuff. Excited for what this might all mean for Fusion too!
Thanks, Kelly. I really think this is just a “God thing” in every way. I can’t wait to see what comes of it.
Tony!!! We are praying up a storm for you!!! Compassion has been close to our hearts for over 13 years. We have 3 kids on three different continents and are continually blown away at the amazing work they are doing in our Lord’s name. We are so excited for you and Fusion. Cannot wait to hear all about your experience. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Big hugs and lots of cheers from the Matthews clan!
Thanks for the encouragement and prayers, Dana. I’m very excited about all of it.