God is working in the Atlanta airport!

I passed through Atlanta airport last weekend en route to Rome...............uh, Rome, Georgia:) Anyway, I wasn't sure why I was going to this particular place, but I knew I was following God's plan for me. Living truly becomes very adventurous when you try to be open to His leading! So....I arrived in ATL with two hours to spare waiting for 3 gals from California who would be arriving at 1:20. Didn't know these girls, they were heading to the same retreat as me, so we were sharing a rental car. Anyway, I find out which gate they would be arriving at and begin looking for a comfortable place to perch myself near there, until they arrive. The airport was busy. My bag was heavy. The regular seats I saw just didn't look inviting. And then...........there it was................the SPA! Seriously, I glanced over, and spotted the spa with lots of soft, reclining chairs. Thank you, God, I thought. This is where I should sit until they arrive.........anyway, my toes were overdue for some care........a sweet gal greeted me at the entrance, immediately ushering me back to one of the soft recliners. I dropped my heavy bag, set my book on the side table and sat. Perfect. I will sit here in comfort for an hour, quietly reading my book. BUT GOD...........told me to talk to this gal. I did, but she spoke little English and didn't seem interested in chatting anyway.......neither did I........so, I figured I was now free to read my book in peace. God, again prompted me to draw her out. Really, God? I thought. I didn't feel like it and she couldn't understand alot and I couldn't understand her. Just leave her alone, to quietly do her job is what I thought. ........"draw her out" I kept hearing........so, I learned she has been here for 8 years having grown up in Vietnam. We talked the whole time! Such a nice girl. She thinks she's "stupid" because she can't read and doesn't speak English as well as others who have been here less time. Our time was almost up, so I asked her if she knew Jesus. She looked at me like she didn't understand. I repeated, "Jesus...do you go to church?" Oh..... now she got where I was going....."no, Buddha", she said. I nodded that I understood. She left to get my bill. When she returned I said, "I know in Vietnam most people are Buddhist. But, just because you are from there doesn't mean you're Buddhist." She looked at me as if to say...really?

Our time was up and it was time for her to move on to another client. I sat there wondering what God wanted me to do in this situation. Was I done? I wanted to give her a bible.........but she couldn't read....how else could I reach her. I searched the airport bookstores for audio bibles but to no avail. The time came for me to find my California car partners at their gate so I thought that must be it. It crossed my mind that maybe I could find a Christian bookstore enroute back from the retreat.. ...... Nope. I let it go.

BUT, God already had it completely orchestrated! I returned home and got back to my routine. Wednesday morning, I got an email from a pastor friend who I am going to Guatemala with tomorrow for a week. It just said that he was in Atlanta airport waiting for his flight(and something else but I don't remember). Instantly, God got my mind back on Tam at the airport spa. I quickly went to amazon and found a bible in vietnamese and an audio in English.

Thursday morning I am at the pregnancy center.........we always start out the day with prayer together and Carolyn reads scripture. Prayer requests? There were a couple.........I thought of Tam.......last minute, I shared a bit of my experience with her at the airport.......Carolyn just 'happened' to have one copy of a vietnamese bible there at the center.......AND......she was leaving the next day for Aruba.............yup.........through Atlanta! Are you kidding me God?? Amazing! Then.......... as I sat with my first client watching a video.........I noticed a DVD sitting amongst a few others...... Do you know God personally? was the title! I picked it up, walked into Carolyn's office and asked her if we had more. Sure enough, one brand new copy, donated for us to use for outreach.

So, Carolyn is now in Aruba, having first stopped at the spa in the airport to deliver Tam's gift(no doubt, from God!). I'll be replacing the vietnamese bible at the center when my amazon shipment arrives! Our God is so BIG!

Heart Surgery: We All Need It!

Celebrating the successful closing of little Zachary's hole in his heart! My great friend and Mission 1:27 co-founder Alison Maat, is home with 5 year old Zach and he is doing well. When he awoke after surgery the first thing he wanted to know was where his truck was(one of the gifts he received for being brave)! Oh, to be five again:) Praise God for this precious little life. I mentioned to my husband as we were walking out of the hospital that, had the Maat family not trusted God in adopting Zachary, he would likely still be living in a desolate orphanage in Russia. He has added so much to their family dynamic and they have provided the loving family that he so desperately needed. Adoption is a wonderful picture of God's plan for us. Each of us is lost in this world until we are adopted into the family of God. We love you Zachary!

....and, then, there is spiritual heart surgery.......

God has been gradually repairing the brokenness of my own heart. This weekend I attended a woman's retreat based on the book, Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. God has been calling me to live from my whole heart. I've been living from only a portion of my heart for many, many years. The other portion I've kept "safely" locked behind the walls I have built to protect myself from being hurt. In so doing, I have isolated myself from relationships. A few weeks ago I shared with Alison that I felt God was calling me to share my story. It is a final step in my healing process and will hopefully help others see the chains that bind them and help set them free. Alison and I feel particularly called to share the message of healing hearts through small group studies and retreats. If you know me, you know I am not a public speaker. If I continue believing the lies satan tells me about myself I never will step out and allow God to use my story in powerful ways for His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is able to accomplish anything through a softened heart......Praise Him........He is above all things!

Go light your world

Take My Life (And Let It Be) Chris Tomlin [Lyrics]

Heather Williams - Hallelujah

The wheels on the BUS

The VZ family was one that got our hearts searching for what we were to do to assist in the orphan crisis. Mission 1:27 was organized as a result of much prayer desiring Gods Will in this matter. We recently had the priviledge of giving, a much needed, 8 passenger vehicle to this special family. The next step for them may be a BUS if God continues to bless their family with the ability to care for His special children! We are so thankful that God made it clear through His Holy Spirits leading, that THIS vehicle was meant for THIS family. Thank you to those donors who have made Mission 1:27 able to bless this family through their adoption journey. Check out the VanderZwaag story: http://www.vanderzwaagfamily.blogspot.com/
If you feel God's prompting to help this family or another please contact us at: toniajbk@hotmail.com or send donations to: Mission 1:27, 300 S. State Street, Suite 10, Zeeland, MI 49464.

Blessed to be a Blessing

Mission 1:27 is so thankful to God for His infinite wisdom and overwhelming blessings. Mission 1:27 has been so blessed this year with a donor who has used his resources in a continuous effort to support Gods work. In order to help families financially we need fundraisers. To get our fund started this fall, a businessman offered his scrap metal. We have since filled several large Padnos containers on a couple of different occasions and been able to help the two families featured in our links. Praise God for scrap metal! Who knew? God even uses scrap metal in His plan to help the orphan. This just shows how we ALL have been blessed to be a blessing. We just have to have our hearts daily connected to the One from whom all BLESSINGS flow. I want to sincerely thank this donor and hope his faithful sharing of Gods blessings will encourage you in your walk on this NARROW path.

2011 Starts With a Boom!

Mission 1:27 has started off the new year with a few exciting things. I have seen the Holy Spirit at work and have felt so covered in prayer by my faithful warrior friends. Thank you and God bless each one:).

A great 2000 Smokercraft fishing boat has been donated for us to sell and help out families who are adopting or hoping to. God already knows who will be the buyer, but we could use your help on this. If you know anyone who may be interested in this boat(pic will be posted soon) please encourage them to contact me at: 616-747-6267 or toniajbk@hotmail.com
Remember, ALL the $ given to us for this boat will help bring one of God's precious little ones home to their forever family! So, if you are thinking of purchasing a boat, now is a great time as you will be getting a boat and giving to a cause that is close to the heart of God. Please pray, and contact me with any questions or comments.

2000 SMOKERCRAFT details:

• 50 horse/2 stroke
• autopilot electric 12-volt Minn Kota trolling
• dual live well/front-back/automatic/aerrated
• 4C
• never any problems with motor, doesn't leak any water
• trailer has torsion suspension
• $6800 OBO

Owner simply chose to go to a larger boat.