This is a personal record for me. It's the first time I have posted 3 straight weeks in a row and started keeping up with something like this. So, in light of that, and how good the story is this time, give yourself a few minutes to read this one. I'm a storyteller, as I said before, and the best stories are the ones that give those little details that spice it up.
As some of you know, I was planning on going to Shenyang this weekend. My roommate and I had gone to the police station and filed our passports and then came back to the school where I assumed my passport was with the lady who went with us. I got up Friday morning, ready for my trip, only to find out a little later that the police still had my passport and there was no way to get it back in time for the trip. I was crushed, but refused to give up. After exploring some options, I was told some people would look into it and I began my day of teaching. As I walked down to class, I started thinking in my head "Father, I can't do this without You. I have no control over whether or not I can go now. I promise to make my focus the students today and teach them to the best of my ability. I just ask that You allow one of the alternative options to work out."
True to my word, I gave the kids every bit of myself that I could, all the while continuing to have my thoughts going in the back of my head "Father, please work this out." Halfway through the day, I was called into the office by the secretary and the lady who had taken us down to the police station originally. They informed me that they had asked for a rush job on my passport, but had no idea whether or not I would be able to get it in time. If I didn't have my passport in my hand and out the door by 3 p.m., and they said this was almost impossible, I would not be going on the trip.
My mind was blown. Father had taken all of the options and said "Chris, you don't give me enough credit; I will give you the possibility of having the passport you need. Do you trust me?" I then had to teach math before it was time to go. I once again taught math the best I could, while in the back of my mind asking Father over and over "Please, let my passport be done by 3 so I can go on this trip this weekend." The time came to go and it was myself and the lady going with me to the police station again. It was an extremely awkward drive. She was frustrated at me for not telling her sooner. I felt awful because I found out she dropped everything just to try and get me on this flight in time. And each time I apologized and tried to express my sincerest sorrow, she simply said that she only wanted to do what she could to have everything turn out ok. Her frustration was from me not telling her sooner and making it easier for her.
As we were getting close to the station, I remembered how many times I have heard that we need to be thinking specifically. I started thinking "Father, when we get to the station, I know I need the passport and I know it shouldn't be ready by 3, but please let it be ready within the first 15 minutes of us walking into the room. If it is not in Your will, please allow it to be done by 3." We walked in the police room and I intentionally looked at the clock. It was 2:12. I thought "Ok, Dad, 2:27. Let's do it." I sat down and less than 5 minutes later I had my passport in hand, shaking the hands and thanking those who rushed it, and getting into the car for a 3 hour drive. The lady assured me we could make it in the 3 hours and that Charis and Melissa, the two fellow teachers going with me, would be waiting there for me.
At this point, I'm just blown away, almost to the point of crying. How could I not have trusted Father to do this for me? As we start the drive to the airport, I silently praise Him over and over again, and beg Him to allow us to get there by 6 p.m., when I absolutely had to be there to check in. Ready for the kicker? I made it in 2 hours and 15 minutes, and beat Charis and Melissa, who were on the train that should have only taken 45 minutes. I got there so early, I even had time to sit down for a drink and a time of praise to my Father before they got there.
All this to say, we underestimate the power of our conversations with Father so often, and yet He continues to blow our minds. This is one more example of the power of our thoughts. I have had one of the best weekends since coming to China, and it should have never happened in the first place.
These are my stories...
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