Faithful God! Missions trip to AK!

The Lord works in mysterious ways, & it brings me closer to Him. I have an amazing story to tell you.

Here at the Honor Academy we do missions trips called Global Expeditions, & people from all over come to our campus to train for their trip before they go. (Remember when I went to New York last year?) Well, there were some missionaries going to Alaska, and they brought their kids along. So I was asked to be a nanny for them while their parents train for the 1 week trip.

At first I was scared & unsure. These kids were 9, 12, & 15 after all! But we spent almost a week together hanging out, learning so much, growing amazingly close. I wasn't planning on going to Alaska. But I spent time with all the Missionaries & Team Leaders who were going, & my heart was pulling towards going. They kept asking me, "You should see if you could go!" It was so last minuet, I wasn't sure if I should try, plus I would have to raise $2,500 in THREE DAYS!

So, I began praying about it, and felt like, yes, I should try. I kept talking with the Global Expeditions people. It was HARD! I had to fight for this, because it was so late. I remember constantly praying & speaking the Word (which is sooo important). The team prayed for me and over me constantly and it looked like I was going, they just needed to see if my name could be on a ticket for the plane.

So, 2 days before they left to Alaska, I has NO CLUE if it was going to happen, but I still stepped out in faith, starting to fundraise by calling people. I cried from time to time because I was scared. But I still told God who He was (even though He knows..) "God, You are Jehovah Jireh, and Your Word says you will provide ALL my needs. Your Word says I am above and not below, the head and not the tail. You say to commit to you my ways and my plans will be established. You said the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. You said to have faith." He gave me to grace to have it. I just did this over and over and over, but didn't expect He would drop the money in my lap because faith without works is dead. I had to activate my faith, so I called people & fundraised. 

So I got like $500 in a day & still needed sooo much more. I remember a time where I doubted and didn't think it was going to happen because I still needed a lot of money. But I still kept going, remembering who He was. "Lord, You give good gifts to Your children..."

Every so often the team would ask me, "So are you going?" I'd say, "I'm trying!"

The night before they left, (they were heading out at 9am) I STILL didn't know. Global Expeditions didn't get back to me if the name was on the ticket, but I still packed anyway, just in case ;) We had a night of worship and prayer over all the teams. There were teams going to Peru, Zambia, New York, Mexico, South Africa, everywhere! Alaska got together & we prayed. I felt weak and sad because I needed about $2,000 within a few hours and it didn't look too promising.

However, I ran into the guy I was talking to about the ticket & he said, "Alright Amber, are you ready to see if you can go?" I said "YES!" He looked at me and said casually with a grin, "So, it looks like you're going to Alaska." I squealed! He said, "Holy cow, Amber!" And I knew he meant, "Man, this was crazy, but God provided." See, even if I DID have all the money, it was all up to them seeing if my name to get on a ticket so last minute. I knew God wanted me on this trip. He then talked to me about money. He said, "One of the missionaries didn't show up even though he got all his money in. You will take his place, but you'll need to pay for the plane ticket." All in all, they said I could just pay $1,500.

I walked to my dorm done with nannying, and it was like 10 pm. They were leaving tomorrow! Where was this money going to come from?I fell asleep at midnight, crying and planning on waking up early to fundraise more. I just needed $500 at this point! 

Then right before I fell asleep, my sister called. Long story short, her and her husband donated it all! I was speechless!

So I got to wake up knowing I WAS going to Alaska. 

My team was having breakfast & I walked quickly to where they were. One of the guys held my eye contact in expectation, waiting to hear what I was so excited about. "So, do you get to go?" they all asked impatiently. "YES!" I said, & they irrupted in applause and thanks to God! It was amazing.

That is my story. I want to tell you all about Alaska & share pictures. I will do that soon!
God is FAITHFUL!