the girl from Germany and God's perfect plan

I have written many stories over the last few weeks about our mission trip to Costa Rica. (And there are so many more stories! I don't want to forget any of them! wink.) This story about a girl we met in San Jose, who was actually from Germany...

It was beginning to lightly rain, and we were hoping the storm would pass. We didn't have an umbrella, but we continued walking door to door, sharing the gospel and inviting people to the festival at the local park.  Soon we realized the rain wasn't letting up. I was carrying stickers and my Bible but I put it all inside of David's backpack, because it was getting wet. We decided to start heading back toward the park because it seemed likely that the festival would be cancelled due to the weather.

However, as we got closer to the park, there were two girls walking toward us. One girl was tall and blonde, and the other girl looked to be native to Costa Rica. David, Jonah (our translator) and I stopped to talk with the girls. The tall blonde girl spoke some English and she explained she had just arrived from Germany; she was going to be living in Costa Rica for a year, to study and learn the language. She was hesitant to have a spiritual conversation with us, because she said that she had "never really read the Bible and she couldn't make any decisions without first having all the information. " David asked her if she would like to have a Bible, and she said she would like that. Then, David opened his backpack and handed her my Bible. She looked down at the Bible, looked up at us and back down at the Bible. She asked, "You're giving this to me? I can have this Bible?" David explained that we had come a very long way to tell people about Jesus, and share the Truth of the Bible. She looked a bit surprised by our gift and after a short pause she said, "Okay, here is the thing. I do have questions and I believe some things, but it's hard to say in English. If you could speak German, then I could talk to you."

Friends, this is the part of the story where God just blew us away! You see, we were not the only church from the United States who was helping on this mission trip. There were two other churches- one from Florida, and one from California. David and I didn't know all the people from the other two churches, but the Lord orchestrated this night perfectly. Because, standing only a few feet away, listening to our conversation with the girl from Germany, was a man named Willie. Willie was with the California church, and Willie is originally from Holland. Willie. speaks. German.

Willie stepped up to our conversation and began speaking to the blonde girl in German and her mouth literally dropped open. (Actually, all our of mouths dropped open a bit. wink.) And, guess what? Willie shared the gospel with her. The Holy Spirit moved in her heart.  She accepted Christ that night! Oh, and her friend accepted Christ, too!

Over and over again during our trip, we gave thanks to God for His plan. He didn't need to use us; He can do all things, without us. But, He loves us so much that He allows us to watch Him at work and He allows us to join Him. What an amazing God we serve! To Him be the glory!

Our team!



David and Jonah, enjoying this man's beautiful artwork.

"This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe."- 1 Timothy 4:9-10