God's File Folders

Honda Elements are everywhere! What? You haven’t noticed? 

Actually it’s understandable that I see them when you don’t, because I’ve researched Honda Elements, looked online for their availability and, well, I’ve even prayed for one. There was a time I didn’t notice them, but now my brain has created a file folder, as it were, labeled Honda Element. So now I see them on every road and in every parking lot. 

Honda Elements have been around for years, but I only began noticing them when they became important to me. 

Which brings me to Romania. Not long ago I would have been hard pressed to locate it on a globe. But now it’s the biggest place on the map. What changed? 

Two years ago I began praying for a new adventure. I assumed God would send me somewhere I had been before: Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela, or Guatemala. But instead I felt impressed to call my friend Andy, who leads a ministry in Romania. Through that connection, God quickly revealed why He had planted me, a youth worker, in a job at an assisted living where the average age was 83. He was preparing me to serve as an advocate for homeless elderly...in Romania. 

Talk about your personalized marching orders! It’s not that I woke up one day and said, “Hmmmm, I think I’ll devote my energy toward the plight of homeless elderly in Romania.” No, only God comes up with assignments like that. But I love that God confirms things. Just in case I thought I misheard Him, God created a file folder in my brain and labeled it Romania. 

Now Romania pops up everywhere. For example, who knew there’s a Romanian Church nine miles from my home? Or that several people I know would introduce me to their Romanian friends? Or that now when I speak for groups, someone invariably comes up afterwards and says, “I’m from Romania.” 

And then there was the morning one of my housemates left for work and immediately called back and said, “Quick, run to the top of the driveway! There’s a man walking by who’s wearing a t-shirt with Romania written on it.” 

For crying out loud, Romania came to my front door! 

It’s as if God is saying, “You’re on the right path, Kim, and in case you ever doubt it, just take a peek in your Romania file.” 

June 17 I’m traveling to the biggest place on the map for a sixth time. I’d appreciate your prayers for my journey to Romania and the three weeks I’ll be there, sharing the love of our magnificent God, who even now may be labeling a special file folder personalized just for you! 

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, make known among the nations what He has done (Psalm 105:1).