First Class Angel

Tonight I picked up my journal from last year and looked through it a bit.  I haven't done that in awhile, because it's not easy reliving some of the stuff we went through.  But I ran into a story that gave me hope, even for where I am now.

I was on the Guam to Hawaii flight in February for surgery for my messed-up ankle.  It was a challenging and lengthy trip, and I wouldn't have made it without the assistance of my friend and fellow missionary, Sophie.  Insurance also tried to be as helpful as possible, and booked me in first class (but Sophie was left behind in economy).  However, even in first-class there was no leg room, and I knew I was in for a painful eight hours, not being able to elevate my foot. I was left to just pray for mercy, and God answered by sending a super nice middle-aged lady to sit by me.  It's always interesting to hear what first-class people do for a living, and she told me, but I honestly don't remember much, because I mostly just remember what she was like.  She was like my first class angel.  She helped me get situated in my window seat, even figuring out where to place our bags on her side so I could prop by foot up as high as possible, which couldn't have been super comfortable for her.  It seemed like I had to go to the bathroom way more than usual, but every time, she would flag down the flight attendant to get my crutches, and would walk behind me to the bathroom and back, to make sure I was alright.  She was so helpful, in fact, that the flight attendants assumed she was traveling with me, and were telling her where to find my wheel chair when we landed.

Besides being such a blessing to me with my foot issues, she also encouraged my heart.  We started talking, obviously, because she wanted to know what happened to my foot.  That was an easy start to a conversation about missions, Christianity, and Adventists--and she was quite familiar with each of these subjects.  After my whole story was laid out, she looked at me and said, "You know, Andrea, I can't help but think that God is in all of this.  I don't usually say things like this, but it seems like something God might want you to hear. I really think He has a future for you in missions, and everything that has happened is preparing you. I believe He has something very special ahead for you, and it's somehow connected to all of this."  As she continued to share, it was one of those strange and extremely rare moments that you know when you try to tell other people about it, they'll think that you are crazy or the person who told you this was crazy.  But it was one of those times when I really did feel like the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.  He was saying the exact words that my heart needed to hear.  The words she was saying were confirming thoughts that had already been planted in my mind the last few weeks of spending some extra alone time with God (due to being stuck in the apartment a lot).  It reminded me that He was in control, and that He saw me and cared enough to send someone to encourage me when I needed it most.

I'm not going to say it was the most comfortable ride of my life.  Definitely was not.  But God was there, sharing my pain, encouraging my heart--giving me hope that even now rings in my ears.  He has not abandoned me.  He has plans...hope...a future...

"He cared for them with a true heart 

and led them with skillful hands."  

Psalm 78:72