Confirmation Often Comes When You Step Out in Faith

Faith is a somewhat elusive thing sometimes. It is the only thing God honors but He is the only One who can provide it. We are to have faith in God and His providence in our lives (and not unbelief) but we are made of dust, here today and gone tomorrow. As Christians, let alone as humans, we often are easily persuaded or dissuaded by our circumstances...sometimes reading into the events of our lives too much and other times, not seeing the hand of God clearly leading us. Why is faith so challenging? Why does it stretch us so? Why is it sometimes so elusive?

Jeannette and I think one of the biggest reasons is because of fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of man...fear. We forget that Perfect Love (Jesus Christ) casts out fear. We are assured by Scripture that no one can separate us from the love of God. God clearly tells us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. And yet...we still fear and doubt. I think it is because we have such a tendency to base our faith on ourselves. God will or will not be faithful because I do or do not deserve it...today, yesterday, tomorrow. However, I think God bestows faith and honors faith for two reasons alone. Primarily for His glory and secondarily to display His love for His children.

We had the most amazing time attending the S.E.E. staff conference in Udine, Italy. We really didn't think we could go (too much money, bad timing, etc). And then, we were thinking that if anyone went, it would just be me. But, after a supporter friend offered to give funds to provide for one of the tickets, we stepped out in faith only to end up booking tickets out of Miami. What, my wife said? I did it to save $300 on each ticket. Then for 24 hours afterwards, we tried everything we could do to change them and get a reasonable price. A couple of days later, it hit us...we need to get our long-term visa and the only place we Floridians can do this is at the Italian Consulate in Miami! Amazing how God blesses and guides us in spite of ourselves.

The week of staff training was filled with lots of prayer, worship, team-building events (some fun games, time at a local river swimming, etc) and lots of updates about God's faithfulness to Himself and to His will as we heard of all the Italians who are being reached for Christ through the church in Udine, mimes, skits, concerts, the ESL classes (over 200 Italians last year) and the most successful year to date for the bible institute along with accreditation by Liberty.

We also got to go with an evangelism team from McGregor Baptist once to the park and 2-3 nights out on the piazza with great success (mimes, skits, puppet shows, preaching)...God worked mightily. Many people were asking questions, wanting to know how they could learn more about God and Jesus and the Bible (most Italians have a great respect for the Bible but almost none read it or know what it says).

I also had the privilege of witnessing, along with a neat pastor from McGregor, Russell, for about a half hour to an Italian from Romania. It was amazing as this young man went from having just decided to become a Jehovah’s Witness after much study and consideration to thanking us and telling me that we had made his day. Russell, apparently quite a good study on Jehovah's Witnesses, was able to, by memory, give him each and every year that JW’s had predicted Christ’s return with no success).

It was clear that, despite what you might expect, showing him the error of the JW’s had made him very happy. And then helping him to learn that in fact, the Bible proclaims Jesus is truly the Messiah and God, one and the same. It was a glorious experience as we hugged and he thanked us and acted as if his whole life had changed.

Then, Saturday, we had a day to look around Udine and outlying areas to see a lay of the land, praying about where God might have us live. Here we were looking to find a place to live for our family of seven and we don't even yet have someone to lease or take our house in Orlando! I felt like God was saying, "This is what My wisdom looks like...it looks like foolishness to the world...but when I call my people to leave everything for Me, this is what faith looks like."

A sweet girl, JJ from Metro Life is going through some of the same things we are as she heads for England to help with a Sovereign Grace church there. We had such a sweet time of praying together at the Miami church just before we left for Italy. We shared together how God's timing is always perfect. Maybe not exactly when we want it (too early, too late) but always perfect. And like when Jesus did not go to raise Lazarus right away, it was so that God would be glorified (we just recently found out that despite any fears or doubts, JJ now has all her money and leaves for England in 5 weeks...please pray for this young fireball for the Lord!)

So after looking for 1 days (Monday), we put a pre-contract down on Tuesday on a 2nd floor apt in a small town called Colugna (a little challenging when all is written in Italian!) Thank God for Ken and Ruthann Wells who were like angels to us throughout all of this. It's not big...about1300 sq feet for a family of 7 but there's a partially-finished attic (about 500 sq feet) where we figure, we'll put the boys and lock it for time alone (just to have some quiet...we promise we'll let them out periodically). It is a very "bible-study" friendly place with a nice sized living room and a 2nd floor deck outside that would be fun for afternooon get-togethers with believers or unbelievers alike.

Well, we stepped out in faith and it will be a small miracle if we get this place. There was already an offer on it...they offered 50 more Euros a month than us, 3 months down versus our 2, and they are willing to take it starting August 1 versus our arrival in early September. The one thing we have going for us is that the lady downstairs seemed to like us (and Americans in general) and the other couple has a dog, which she does not like.

Please pray...this would be an amazing opportunity, especially given that Colugna is a somewhat small town just minutes outside of Udine with tons of opportunities to develop relationships, evangelize unbelievers and God willing, disciple brand new believers! We are so unworthy but so very thankful to have this incredible opportunity to reach lost Italians. Thank you for all your prayers. We did not really think we'd leave Udine on this trip with a possible home but God always seems to do above and beyond what we can think or imagine. La Donna (the lady) has one week to accept our offer (next Saturday, the 19th is the final day). Please pray.

We returned to Miami after a two-hour delay in Atlanta at 2:30 in the morning. Thankfully, the kids got down to Miami along with two godly friends of the girls (Bethany's friend, Kelley from the Lord of Life Church in Indiana, PA and Hannah's friend, Clarice Chin) with our sweet new friends Nando and Cindy to greet them. But it gave us a little concern to think of our eldest, Bethany, picking us up at Miami Int'l at 2:38 in the morning (instead of the original arrival time of 11:30) but Jacob and her arrived right on time despite our concerns. But to suffice it to say, we were all very tired! And we had to go in less than 6 hours to the Italian consulate in Miami! So sleep we did and the next morning, nearly 2 hours early, the entire family (minus 2 friends) went to the consulate and sat and waited for the doors to open. We'd heard about lines in New York where you had to get there by midnight the night before to get in as the first 100 which were the only ones guaranteed to be seen or considered. We had heard that Miami was a little different but we really didn't really know what to expect.

The preparation had been incredible...it felt like it must for some who do an international adoption. The paperwork was voluminous...invites from Italy to come, translations of documents, notorized documents, proof of our status as missionaries, proof of identity, proof of Jeannette's married name, proof of our children's and our citizenship, birth certificates, passports for all, etc., etc, etc. We had been told that many of the SEE team members had been rejected 2-3 times. So we knew this would be a huge step forward. By God's grace, both Jeannette and I were full of faith that we were going to walk in there and come away with our visa for religious purposes. Not that we are always that way...we too are tempted by unbelief. However, God had placed it in our hearts to have great faith.

Still, it was to our shock and amazement when 13 minutes into our time and having looked at only about 5% of our documents, we were told by the consulate rep that all looked good and it was "only an informality at this point" and we could pick up the visa the next morning (Friday, which we'd allowed for just in case). We walked out in seeming disbelief. Could it really be this easy? Could God really do this this way? The next morning we walked in, this time just Jeannette and I. The rep, Fabio, immediately saw us, held up his finger as if just a moment, and less than 3 minutes later, we had our visa!!! We walked out in amazement. It was as if God was saying, "You may think that all your effort is necessary but the bottom line is that I will show you that I will glorify Myself in spite of your great effort." What an awesome God we have...and what a neat confirmation of God's continued leading. All day, about every 10 minutes, I was exclaiming, "I can't believe it! We have our visa! God is so good!" We called and e-mailed friends and supporters to proclaim God's goodness...He is so worthy to be praised!! And He commands us to praise His name.

⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.” Ps 97:6

“Give thanks to the LORD,

call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.” Is 12:4

Thank you so much for all your prayers. We are so grateful for those of you who have stood so faithfully with us as we have sought God's will and to fulfill God's calling on our lives. Often, it has been incredibly challenging but to have to standing with us as often made the difference. Jeannette commented so many times while we were away, "Lee, I know people are praying for us! I know it!" And obviously God has answered our prayers. Thank you Lord. Thank you Jesus. Worthy to be praised is the Lord God Almighty!

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:5-7