Two Rivers Ministries

I’m pretty speechless at the moment. In fact this photo describes my feelings at the moment:

God is sooo good, and so real.

Thank you all for your prayers for my provision to be here in Cairo as a missionary. I know people have been praying for me, and I want to share with you how God answered these prayers!

So, this month was my “transition” month to being a full-time support-raising missionary. I still had a bout a month’s worth of savings to get by on after my last pay check this month, and I was getting down to the nitty gritty here as I was approaching the end of the month. We had set up a system here at Two Rivers as we began support raising that we would use what little grant money we had left to help cover everyone’s monthly bills as needed (unless you could raise your monthly support). So basically, going into next month I didn’t have all of my support raised, so what little support I had was going to go to paying my bills and I would receive $150 to live on for the month. I’d been praying all month for God’s leading. I didn’t feel like He wanted me to send out a million support letters, but just to trust Him to provide, basically without any of my help. I know He’s wanting to teach me about His faithfulness and so often I try and take things into my own hands, so this was a specific lesson for me.

But as the end of the month grew near and I knew things were looking bleak from my end. I didn’t know how God was going to do it, but I was really trusting that He would - that Matthew 6 is a promise, that I didn’t have to worry about what I would eat or wear, that God would provide for His children. If I was where He wanted me to be, than surely He would take care of me.

This week as I was praying, God gave me a picture. He speaks to me in pictures a lot (like a movie inside my head). So in this one, I was a little kid sitting on a cliff, and Jesus comes by in a red hot air balloon, lands and I hop in. We take off and I’m wondering what He’s going to show me. Soon we come to a landscape just covered with rolling hills and ontop of the hills are more cattle than I could ever count. He reminded me of the verse that the Lord owns the cattle on a thousands hills. As we began to float over them, we often got closer and the cattle would begin to run. I saw just rivers of cattle stampedeing the hills, like buffalo. He was showing me His resources. I remembered going to the Tillman’s family farm in Springfield last fall, and they had cattle there that they could call in from the fields with a simple “sou-cow”. Jesus looked at me in my picture and just said, “why don’t you call the cows in?” So I did. I sat in my room, in my chair and I said “soo-eee” outloud. Calling in my cattle.

Then yesterday, I sat in my chair again before I went to bed. I was praying “Okay, Lord. Tomorrow is the last day of the month, I don’t have enough support raised. I believe you are faithful. I believe you are able. I believe Matthew 6 is true. You have 24 hours, Lord.”

Which brings us to today, oh blessed leap year.

Today, our friend Harlen from a Lutheran church up in northern illinois came down to take us all out to lunch and to talk about an upcoming trip we are taking to minister at their church in April. At lunch, Harlen begins to share things God has put on his heart, his desire to give to others and find ways to help those in need. In the midst of sharing some things, he said he had a friend who raised cattle and wondered if we could use some meat if he could get some for us. We all kind of looked at each other, like - um, what? Free meat? Free steak?!! I can’t remember the last time I had steak. mmmm. And before lunch was over, he set it up to get us practically a whole cow’s worth of meat. God had also been moving on his heart to donate a significant amount of money to our ministry.

Unbeknonst to me, Sharon had talked with Harlen this morning about some checks he had sent that had been lost in the mail, and how he wanted to give to support us. Sharon had mentioned my current state of lack of funds and basically invited him to pray about whether he would want this money to go to supporting me. So all this afternoon he’s been praying about this. And after a time of praying over Harlen after lunch he asks if he can make an announcement. Sharon says, “sure”. And he shares how Sharon had been telling him how we are all raising support now and about me and how he wanted to be my sponsor!!! His face lit up as mine lit up and I told Him how this was such an answer to prayer and totally God’s timing!! Always on time, even at the 11th hour!! Harlen jokingly said I must be thankful that February had an extra day this year. I couldn’t agree more. His sponsorship helped me to cover over half a year’s salary. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

To God be all the glory, honor, and praise. Only He could have brought the cows home for me. I’m looking forward to that steak.

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support, this is such a sweet blessing from the Lord and confirmation yet again, that He will be faithful to lead me and provide for me!!!

Part 2:   More Than I Could Hope Or Imagine! 

This week our staff along with some friends in the region are entering into an intense time of prayer for raising up 24/7 prayer in the region as well as preparation for 50 days of 24 hour prayer here in Cairo this summer! We have seen God’s faithfulness so much in this place of prayer and He continues to lead us into new seasons of obedience in this. Please keep us in your prayers this week especially for wisdom and guidance for the Lord in these new endeavors, for opportunities to love on people in this community in Christ, and to hear from the Lord.

Today was quite a day. My supporter from Colfax was back in Cairo today to deliver us a cow :o). See “leap year” entry below. We now have two freezers stuffed with over 650 pounds of beef!! Including steak and prime rib, what?!! Amazing. He even tossed in some pork. What a blessing!! I know we will enjoy feasting on such delicacies, but I’m also so excited to be able to bless others in the community with this precious gift! (Addendum: I think it’s quite funny that in my “vision” from my “leap year” entry when I called the cows, I actually used a pig call, “sou-ee”, and then we ended up getting some pork with our beef ;o) hee hee.)

In addition to bringing us a fresh cow, Harlen also felt led to support me for the entire year!!!! That’s right, folks, I am now FULLY supported for this year of ministry, and on top of that, he gave me a raise ;o), more than I was asking for each month. AND it doesn’t stop there….Harlen also felt led to support some of the other staff here at Two Rivers too. Blessings all around!

Kristy pointed out during our staff meeting today that since the beginning of the year, the Lord has raised over $50,000 for our ministry, if you count support raising and other gifts - all without a grant. This is greatly freeing for any ministry! So, praise the LORD!!!

Thank you all again for your prayers, I can certainly tell that people are praying for me and this ministry. God is faithful to listen to hear our prayers.

If you would like to read more about Sara’s Journey, her personal blog can be found at http://www.gerberdaisy.wordpress.com