Happiest Thanksgiving

Well I am sorry it has been a bit since my last post! Crazy, crazy...
I have a couple miracles to tell you about- one is not yet my story to tell, but I will say that God is at work and blowing my mind...I look forward to giving you the details of that one as soon as I am able... but it ties into the second one in a way... the message God is driving home to me this last week is how totally in control He really is.  For someone who has control issues (I am NOT in denial about that and have gotten so much better over the years!) it is hard to trust and 'let go.'

Tuesday evening I was working in the library; one of the only places I can find where it is quiet to work.  It was about 9:15pm and my phone rang.  Nothing like the sound of the Pirates of the Caribbean singing "Yo Ho Yo Ho a Pirate's life for me!" at top ringer volume in the middle of a silent library.  I grabbed my phone and saw a California number.  I didn't recognize it but I answered as soon as possible just to get it to stop ringing!!  "Hello?" I said softly and hopefully not to the annoyance of anyone else in the library.  I was rushing towards the door to get outside so I couldn't tune in well to the voice on the other end saying, "Helloooooo, Leaaaaah."  "Hi," I said totally unaware of who I was speaking to.  "This is Aunt Annette."  I was so thrilled- and surprised!  "HI!!" I said meaning it this time.... "what are you doing calling me so late?( I was thinking after the time change there it should be around 11:15pm there) Are you okay?!!" I had just had a dream of her two nights earlier, so instantly I was wondering if something was wrong... "Actually, it's not that late," she responded..."We are on your time.  We are in Hawaii."  WHAT?!!!  "That is sooo great, where in Hawaii?"  "We are in Kona."  I about fell over.  No joke, "What?!  What?!  You're in Kona? Where in Kona? Do I get to see you???"  I could barely get the words out quick enough.  "Well, what are you doing for Thanksgiving we would like to take you to dinner."  I could not respond.  I went into that deep silent cry that has no sound.  She must have thought she lost me... I tried to make some sound so she would know I was still there...but I just couldn't speak.
It's amazing to me how God not only knows what we need, but He provides it without even being asked.  There was no part of me that thought I would ever, ever see Family here, let alone on Thanksgiving Day!!  It was unbelievable!
They came to the campus around 2:45pm.  I was out standing on a huge lava rock on the Hwy. so they would see me and not miss the turn.  Straight out of a movie I watched every car passing not knowing which car would be their rental.  Then a car slowed in the distance and I heard the horn start honking.  Hooooonk! honk honk hooooooonk!  My arms flew straight up into the air and I jumped up and down like a child.  I jumped off the rock.  I wonder if I have ever been happier to see two people.  hehe.  Huge hug from Aunt Annette and a quick jump into the backseat to take them through the gate and onto campus.  We went up to my dorm room.  "Oh, Leah," Aunt Annette said as we walked on the Lanai, "these are so nice."  I had to grin and say, 'okay...' because I knew we were about to walk into the room and it would be a different story!  We were not two steps in the door when her sweet face changed, "Oh, Leah..." she said again and we both started laughing.  Immediately upon walking in you see four beds, there are two in a loft upstairs you cannot see, but 6 women in one flat is quite a bit.  "I couldn't do it," she said, "I just couldn't do it."  I really appreciated hearing that because it has been the most character stretching thing for me as well.  I love my roommates, I really do.  I am so blessed by them, but hey, it's not easy.  You have to respect when someone else is sleeping or trying to work.  When they need in the bathroom and when they need to cook.  Others actually come into our room and always comment on how nice it is, but it is because we are older and tidy :)
I showed them around, it took about 10 steps, and the bathroom. "Oh, Leah... one bathroom for 6 girls?"  I didn't dare tell her we may get 2 more roommates next quarter! (ugh)  I explained the ONE spot on the shower handle where it MUST be in order to get hot water.  Not one smidge to the left or right or you will have cold water and tonight is actually the first time I have ever had truly hot water!  Praise You, Jesus!!  Really makes you appreciate the ability to take a shower at all!
I showed them my homework, what we actually do.  It felt so good to show someone and explain what is required.  To tell them how long it takes and how it flows.  They saw Ohana court, which is a basketball court and covered area where we have services that is right below our window... Aunt Annette recalled a mission trip to the Philippines that they had taken where they were above a basketball court and how difficult it was to sleep with just a bouncing basket ball.  It felt so good to have someone understand.  It felt so good just to have them here, standing in my room, seeing where I live.
We left for the restaurant and it was right down the hill.  It was an absolutely wonderful dinner on the water.  It was cool and even sprinkled a bit, but in Hawaii that is just fun.  It was cloudy but Aunt Annette wanted to see the sun set.  Who doesn't!  So I shot an arrow prayer up, "Oh, Lord, please let the sun come out of the clouds for her.  She's so good."  Sure enough when there was only about 10 minutes left before the sun would set, the clouds parted on the horizon and the huge red sun was visible with just a picture perfect cloud strand in front of it.  The sun set never gets old here, and it is amazing how quickly it appears to move when it is that close to the horizon.  It takes what seems to be no time at all to disappear.  It was gorgeous, and so generous of our Father.
I felt so honored to be with them.  To express to them, again, who they are to me and who they have never failed to be.  Jim and Annette King have been married for almost 40 years.  They are the true example in my life of what a marriage can and should look like.  They genuinely like each other!  They love each other and laugh and touch. He honors her and compliments her.  She calls him "James" (and babe) when everyone else calls him Jim.  I love it.
After dinner we drove and walked.  I thought they would take me back but we lingered in each other's presence and it was so, so wonderful. We had ice cream and conversation.  We laughed and remembered.  We had true conversation that I will not repeat here, and aren't those the good ones?  It was very possibly the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.  Who would have thunk it?
They dropped me off with hugs and prayer.  I got all choked up as I waved good bye.  I haven't had a night in a long time that I didn't want to end, and I treasured each bit of it throughout.

I didn't ask God for family on Thanksgiving.  But He knew how badly I needed them.  I didn't ask Him to validate all I'm doing here... but He did that, too.  I didn't ask Him to send two of my favorite people on the planet to love on me, but He did.  Think how much more, then, He will give when I ask.  He cares SO MUCH about me.  Me.. lil ol me.  He is right here, right now, as I type.  He is in me, for me, and working it all out for my good.
I have been...concerned...about how school is going to be paid.  How my LIFE will be paid if I am a full blown missionary.  I have the pride that needs to die a full death.  But He is showing me... I've got it.  "You don't even know where I will send provision from."  You don't know how it will show up or where it will come from.  Which angle or why.  He's got me, He's really, really got me.  Damn my lack of trust to the deepest pit of hell!!!  My Daddy LOVES ME!!! and He's GOT ME!!!  He loves me.  He's got me.

I am preparing my end of year newsletter dealie bob.  I have never done one, so please pray for me.  I don't have Microsoft Publisher but I am trying to figure it out somehow.  Pray I get time to write it and that I say what needs to be said and don't waste time saying what doesn't.  Pray for the hearts and minds of those who are called to support me monthly to be touched... I don't have many monthly supporters, 3 actually, and it is so hard to ask for that.  I wish I could express how much it means to me that people give gifts.  I wish I could say I don't need them.  I wish money never needed to be mentioned- ever.

Thanks for reading...sorry it was so long.  I appreciate you guys, I really do. ICJN, Leah