The Surprise
My son Adrian has been to Guatemala every summer since fifth grade, save one. He’s divvied out medication, carried the scriptures on his shoulders to people still unreached with the gospel, blown bubbles to occupy waiting children, prayed with families, sung songs, and given bean paste sandwiches to hungry humanity that live at the dump. Over the years, he’s delivered the gospel in myriad ways.
This year he will rap the good news with his rapper buddy Austin. (I mean WhiteOut, because every rapper has to change his name, you know. Adrian is Crossover.) He’s part of a street evangelism team, and they aim to make a spectacle and reach a whole town for Christ.
Adrian’s always been blessed by ministering to others. That’s no big surprise. It’s the nature of blessings. They thread in two directions, getting us all tangled up and knotted together. It’s a tapestry of beautiful.
This year, there’s another thread getting woven into that tangled up mess. Its beginning knot will anchor Adrian to some kids he calls family back at home while he’s abroad. CrossFaith is a parachurch drama ministry he’s involved in, and they had a present for him before he left.
CrossFaith’s director, Mrs. Shannon, gave Adrian some clues beginning a month ago to tease him and build up the anticipation. It worked; he was stumped. I knew all along it would be money — Adrian will learn with age; why spoil it for him?
Then two days before the trip, Adrian came up short $300 and was the pitiful owner of an expired passport. Surprise. But God saw fit to overcome both of these last minute obstacles. After a day logging seven hours drive time, navigating downtown Atlanta, and waiting nail-biting five hours, we came home late on Monday with a new passport to news that the money had been supplied. God is good. Even at the end of a long, hard day that starts at 3:00 am.
So when Mrs. Shannon still hadn’t delivered CrossFaith’s surprise at the end of said day, we got back in the car (reluctantly) and drove across town.
I was wrong. It wasn’t money; it was heart. SURPRISE!
CrossFaith’s brother-and-sister-for-eternity kind of love was sealed right up in eleven envelopes. So while Adrian’s in Guatemala this week meeting the needs of others, his CrossFaith team will be foreign missionaries to him. And that’s no big surprise. It’s the nature of blessings, God’s most ingenious creation and His ultimate gift. And even though God never means it to be a surprise, to me it always is.
So tell me, how does God surprise you?
By me finding a couple books I will need for homeschooling this year, but didn’t remember buying last year, and would not have been able to purchase now, due to deep financial troubles.
My husband has been unemployed for more than 2 years and we have been without unemployment compensation for months now. God is providing our needs, though I still have things I need for school and a few things I would like to have.
That’s awesome, Debbie. Thanks for sharing your surprise blessing and for stopping by Laced With Grace today.
Really nice.
Aww… how beautiful. God bless Adrian for having such a servant’s heart. Thanks for sharing.
Really lovely.
Wow what a great story. Thank you for sharing it. When we are obedient, He will always make a way and provide. Bless your son for his servanthood. We have taken our children on many mission trips and it has impacted them forever.
How neat that your son is such a blessing to others, especially to those who not yet have heard the Gospel.
Thank you so much for sharing.