I'm Back

Back at Thinking Along with you and back from a recently attempted trip to Honduras. Let’s think about that.

We asked, and St. Vincent Dunn Hospital said yes. We could have an ambulance for a small hospital in Ojojona, Honduras. The plan was to drive it there. We prayed and planned, weighing out lots of things. Aware of the various risks involved, we made a decision to trust God, believing the trip to be his will (James 4:13-15).

At the Mexican border, we ran into frustrating obstacles. Hours later, it became clear the complete driving trip was not going to happen. We peacefully accepted it, knowing the trip to the US/Mexican border was not in vain, and that by shipping it, the ambulance will still be used to serve the poor.

A verse came quickly to mind as we were leaving the Mexican border, Acts 16:6,7.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

I’m not Paul and our trip certainly was different from the one he was on, yet there are some important principles for us. You carefully plan, pray, and persist, striving to discern the Lord’s will. Even when you do that, there are going to be times when those plans are changed.

I wonder why, but I have no specific questions. The essence of faith is living in the unknown, living with change, and still trusting God.