Spring Break and the Holy Spirit

     This past spring break, I have had some wonderful opportunities to witness God’s Spirit at work. Our family of 4 traveled to Turks and Caicos for spring break, and boy do we have stories! I had some very fun chances to experience “out of this world, takes your breath away” feelings such as admiration, gratefulness, humility, peace, love, and pure joy that I get to share about…

     First, let me admit that before we left I was very bitter. I was upset that I wasn’t going to be able to spend Easter Sunday with my new family here at Grace Covenant. We were going somewhere foreign, where we have never been before, not knowing a thing about the churches there, or even if there were any at all. I wanted so badly to be here in Wenatchee, where I was comfortable with my family and friends. I even asked my mom if we could come home early for it! But that would mean we would only be in Turks and Caicos for 3 days, so that idea didn’t quite fly. To be completely honest, I was putting off Easter, almost dreading it…totally forgetting what it is all about.

     Now, before we left for our journey, my dad had a wonderful idea to bring some Bibles down with us to gift to people. We didn’t know who, where, or even when we would have the opportunity, but we had faith that God would provide one. So along with each of our 49.9-pound suitcases (not exactly a “light packing” family…) we made it a priority for six Bibles to make it down to the tropical island. I was SO excited to give these away, but quite curious as to whom God would place in our lives. Kids? Adults? Boys? Girls? Many people? Just one? I spent a great amount of time praying for God to lead us to witness to someone. Guess what? He answered!

     We arrived Monday April 2^nd in the afternoon and immediately headed down to a café right next to where we were staying. A very gracious hostess showed us to our seat, and we began to chat it up. She was very courteous to us tourists and gave us information on where to eat, shop, lie in the sun, and even tips for churches to attend on Easter Sunday. We went back to our room that night, and I wondered what her story was…whether she was a believer or not. Didn’t think too much about it, until we ran into her at the restaurant once again. This time, my parents talked to her even more, and later on we learned that she was a Christian who totally and completely puts her trust in God. For a little background, Turks and Caicos is very pricy. For an example, a box of lucky charms was 6$...yea, brutal. So my parents were asking this waitress, our new friend, how the locals did it and if they got a discount. She replied,  “No, we don’t get a discount, but God always comes through. Whenever I need the 721$, he provides it for me.” She was very humble, and very thankful.  This opened up some awesome conversation, and that night the Holy Spirit revealed to me through my dad that this woman was the person to give the Bibles to. We all grew to love her so dearly; we couldn’t wait to give them to her!

     A few days later we met her at the other restaurant she worked at (2 jobs!) and I had the privilege to hand them to her, and explain how God has put it on all of our hearts that she’s the one, and how our hopes were that she might be able to gift them out to some people at her church who may not have one, or even friends. She began to weep, remained speechless, and we just hugged. She was the one God pointed out a long time ago for us to meet. We met a new sister of ours, in Christ, and her name is Joanne.

     Now for Easter morning. We took the advice of Joanne, and attended a Baptist church. The moment we arrived, we felt very welcomed, loved, and connected. The hospitality was amazing, and soon the service began. All I have to say is Baptists know how to do it! I’m serious; they were rocking out-dancing and everything! It was amazing! It was so cool because it wasn’t mindless but it was very much heart-felt. They were all singing and praising Jesus, our risen Savior! I had the realization that my GCC family was thousands of miles away praising the same Savior, and giving thanks to the same God, it was so cool! God humbled me and revealed to me it isn’t about where I am. He is there, He is God. It isn’t about who I’m with. He is there and Jesus is alive! Through all of this, I had the most amazing feeling: This is what it’s going to be like in heaven, except we will all be one and united. How cool is that!? I was so silly to think I couldn’t have a great Easter in Turks and Caicos, because quite frankly it was the most memorable ones. The Holy Spirit was at work the whole time.

     Wow, now that’s a lot of writing, and if you have made it this far, thanks for bearing with me. All of this is to encourage those who think its all about where you are or who your with, because it’s not. It’s not even about us; it surly isn’t about me. It’s about Jesus, and what He has done and the joy we all get to share because of the work that is finished! Amen?!. I feel so blessed to have been able to witness the Holy Spirit work in others lives, as well as my own, to convict, transform me, and remind me about who Jesus is…

“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.”

~Philippians 2:6-11