Provision

All 44 people of H Squad boarded a plane on Tuesday, September 9 at 8:30 am, in Atlanta, GA. We were embarking on our 11 month journey on the World Race. We faced an issue with having to pay for our 1 bag of checked luggage, even though our logistics people fought valiantly, we still had to pay the $25 fee for everyone to check their bags. We traveled from ATL to JFK and then on to Oslo, Norway, where we made an unscheduled landing so that a man with a heart condition could get some emergency care. We were on the tarmac in Oslo for 5 hours before being allowed to take off and fly to Delhi, India. We missed our connecting flight to Bangalore and everything was taken care of for us when we landed in Delhi. As soon as we disembarked from the plane, we retrieved our luggage and a representative from the airline was there with new tickets for a 9 am flight the next morning and accommodations for us at a hotel near the airport. We took a shuttle bus over to the hotel and the wanted to put us all in single rooms, but we thought 2 to a room was better, not to misuse the airline’s generosity. Then they informed us that we were also being given dinner and breakfast by the airline. What a blessing this all was! God really provided so much beyond what we were expecting.

When the Captain announced that we were making an emergency landing in Oslo, we knew this was not an every day occurrence but we went with it, plus we did not have another option 😉 When things settled down on board the plane while we sat on the tarmac for 5 hours and people dozed off and woke up thinking they missed take off, that we must be in the air and they found out we were still on the ground, they laughed and were patient. As time passed and we knew we would not make our connecting flight in Delhi, people were calm and relaxed, knowing that everything would work out. Once we reached Delhi, many of us were thinking we would need to spend the night in the airport, only to find out that the airline had made accommodations for us at the hotel. Even though people had dozed on the plane, some more than others, it was such a blessing to be able to stretch out fully and rest for the night. Especially for one team, who had at least a 12 hour bus ride once we reached Bangalore.

Even in traveling, God blessed us so abundantly! He provided for our every need, spoken and unspoken. Jesus really does care about every detail of your life. I encourage you to run to Him in times of joy, quiet, discomfort, pain, tears, laughter, unease, turbulence, strife, etc… He is our shelter and refuge, the rock of our salvation!

Psalm 71: In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.