HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The last few months were full of the miracles of God! I went home to get some much needed family and friend time. God gave me a practical application lesson on a scripture passage that had been stuck in my spirit for over a year. Hebrews 4:4 speaks of the rest of God. He refers to Genesis 2:2 and says that He rested from ALL His works. For me, these passages gave me the faith to travel from Colombia and back believing that every plan and purpose of God for my life was already complete. I just needed to act on this fact. So how did I apply this fantastic revelation that was exploding in my mind?
Let's start with airfare. I knew that I needed to tend to the business of AFAMMS and spend time with my family and friends. Since I did not have enough money for a round trip ticket, I asked for a one way ticket from Colombia to Orlando for $400.00. Yes, at Thanksgiving time! God gave me permission to ask whatever in His name and He would give it to me. So I did! The lowest price was $480+ The site that I went to said to name your own price. I asked for $400.00. They wrote back and apologized that they could not do the ticket at that price but, would I accept it at $301.30. I laughed and said yes. With taxes it was $471.60. I sent my friend to the same site for my ticket from Orlando to Michigan one week before Thanksgiving. It was $88...something. Thank You God! She gifted it to me. Much fruit for your seed my friend :) Then one round trip to Maryland on New Years day... $187.+cents. Just before leaving for Maryland I prayed and asked God for the ticket and date for returning to Colombia. He said check your frequent flyer miles (I have never had the 25,000 miles that they always ask) There was a one way special for 20,000 miles which would leave me with 301 miles with overweight luggage and taxes $225.90. Round trip Colombia to Colombia approximately for all my travels in the states $884.00. This was less than a round trip ticket from Leticia Colombia to Michigan at Christmas time. God of miracles in airfares. And special thanks to the person who paid my tickets to go to the funeral of a family member. God used you!
Next comes AFAMMS new board members. It had been heavy on my heart the need to make sure that AFAMMS is completely in order in every area. I believe that God wants us to do everything in excellence. God had placed on my heart the need for 2 new board members. During the time that I was in the states, 2 persons came to mind. A young lady that I had ministered with in various conferences on mobilizing African Americans onto the foreign mission field. When asked, she was delighted to accept and is a faithful prayer warrior. Thank you God for Myah Jefferson! Then God showed me that a person who was already ministering for AFAMMS was the second candidate. Patrick Murphy has faithfully been keeping up the AFAMMS website now since 2010. Praise God that he also agreed to have his name on the board. Please pray for these 2 persons. They and their families have been a blessing to AFAMMS and especially to me for many years. Pray that they will be used by God according to His plans and purposes for AFAMMS. Tye and Keanna Barnes has served prayerfully and have helped since the inception of AFAMMS. They are now stepping down to better meet the needs of their growing family. They will continue as prayer partners. Thank you both for your service to AFAMMS. You are greatly appreciated!
Those were 2 major miracles that God did for me on the trip to the states but not the only ones. He helped me to put order to my personal taxes, He opened up the Consulate of Brazil so that I could obtain my visa (They gave me 10 years hallelujah!), He gave me an opportunity to visit with my brother's family in Kansas City, Missouri and He blessed me to be a blessing to the church here in Leticia with 2 Laptops to update the ministry. All the while, God was giving me opportunities to meet with and minister to family and friends and to just enjoy their company. I could keep praising Him for the many things that He did but, you can skype me if you would like to hear more of the miracles on that trip.
This year of 2015 finds me here in Leticia Colombia ministering and serving in the Family Church of Mission Ministry with Pastors Julio and Jenny Pacheco. I am living with 2 house mates. One is the church administrator Alixa and the other, a dear little sister in the church Andrea. We have dedicated our apartment as a place of hospitality and ministry. Currently, Alixa and Andrea are teaching a home Bible study for youth and college age persons on Tuesdays and I am teaching one for single middle age women on Saturdays. I am also in an intensive study track for the RHEMA Bible Training School. This is a 3 year program designed to prepare the students to take the Gospel to the nations. In order to teach with RHEMA one must have graduated from the school. I have been asked to be one of the instructors for the training school here in Leticia and also be available to teach in other RHEMA schools in this Amazon region. This means that I must also learn Portuguese. That's why God had the consulate of Brazil give me a 10 year visa! I am also preparing for a family of 4 who are planning on coming for a vision trip at the end of their Perspectives Mission class. They are seeking God's will as to where He would have them serve. Please be in prayer for Kenneth and Sarah Anum and the Coordination of their trip here to Leticia in May.
Yes there is much to do but, resting in Him we get to see the manifestation of what He has already completed when He rested from “ALL HIS WORKS” (Hebrews 4). We also get to enjoy the benefits. Thanks for participating with me in this adventure.
Adventuring with Christ,
Min. Orchidy
Exec. Dir. AFAMMS
