Longings—Part 3: An Unexpected Text
The Well Conference:H2O—From Hope to Opportunities
On April 20, Collision and I hopped on a flight to Grand Rapids MI, where my manatee mentoree sidekick Katie fetched me at the airport. After a quick stop at Starbucks, she chauffeured me to our accommodations, courtesy of her family. We had our own suite—living room, bathroom, comfy downy bedroom—a more hospitable haven would be hard to imagine. We enjoyed sweet snippets of fellowship with our hosts as we dashed back and forth to The Well Conference for creatives.
Katie is an actress and singer. She's written a screenplay, Pivot, and created a short film, The Deep, which was accepted into and shown during The Well's film festival. We're both exploring the world of Christian filmmaking, to transform Pivot and Collision into film. And maybe The Deep will find a platform for wider viewing.
(Fun sidebar: we were both extras in some on-location filming :) I'll sign autographs later.)
Networking and attending workshops, learning of opportunities, our hope rose. It looks attainable financially but neither one of us felt a fit. To be continued.
Aside from the conference, God opened another opportunity and fulfilled a longing of my heart.
The Longing
Last year, as I concluded my farewell tour to close out 30+ years of international ministry, I had a dream. I wanted to personally visit my oldest, most faithful ministry partners—those who for 30+ years prayed, sent financial and other gifts, encouraged me with cards, letters, phone calls, and visits. They heard my cries of despair in the tarpits, and cheered my successes, and brainstormed with me when the world and my ministry shifted.
Those 35 partners, some overseas, deserved a personal thank you—a hefty but worthy goal. I set out in 2020 to begin, and we all know what happened that year.
Chaos
One year became two, filled with the challenges of a world plunged into pandemic. As travel was suspended, I took advantage to write a book (another longing fulfilled!) and contacting people. Publishing entered the chaos. As 2020 ended, I had managed to visit with three supporters.
2021 wasn’t much better, but I persevered on through 2022, and retired December 31 with the hope that God would open the way for me to reach everyone eventually.
Then the Well Conference popped up, and off I flew, completely forgetting I had one of my amazing supporters in the state.
An Unexpected Text
She found me— one of my longest-term friends. We worked in an animal hospital together and last saw each other in 1990. (To protect her privacy, no names or pix, except this silly one I couldn’t resist posting :) ).
Spotting my FB posts (yay FB!), she texted shortly after I arrived.
“I’m 5 min. away.”
What?!
We scheduled a lunch for the next day. I grabbed lunch from the cafeteria and found a quiet corner where we could eat. At the appointed hour, we spotted each other across the foyer and grinned. After a long hug, we talked non-stop for 2-1/2 hrs. We could easily have added two days. And I spent the next week marveling at how God had arranged this happy surprise.
An answer to prayer, a heart's desire, and hope for more unexpected connections with the people I have yet to see—such gifts!
So don’t give up on the desires of your heart! They might be a text away, when you least expect it.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.—Proverbs 13:12