On a recent ministry trip to Arizona and New Mexico, God had me on my knees one night in intercession for a ministry partner's father who does not know Christ. As I wept and prayed over him, God told me He wanted me to go and tell him about Jesus.
Was I hearing right? God wanted Me to go? I had reasons why He couldn't possibly want me to go. This man lives on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona and in the dead of winter where the red dirt roads freeze at night and thaw in the day the roads are a mess. "God, I don't want to get stuck in the mud in the middle of the rez without any cell phone service." As I continued to pray God was not letting me off the hook. "This man is an alcoholic God, what if he is drunk when I get there?" I continued to pray and God was still not letting me off the hook. "God, what if his dogs bite me?"
Suddenly a peace flooded me and I finished the prayer of intercession, got up and went back to bed. In the morning I knew that I would obey. As I drove back the muddy rez road to the man's house, I was slipping and sliding all over as I tried to stay within the ruts of the road. I realized the road was getting worse so I parked 1/2 way back to the house and got out to walk. As I approached the house the dogs were running around me and barking. And then, as I knocked on the door, it happened.....one of the dogs bit me.
As I looked down I realized he had bit be on my snow boot and it did not break through to my skin. At that moment, God said to me, "Yes, things are going to happen to you on the rez, Sherry, but I am here to take care of you." Then the man answered the door and it was not the man I thought it would be. As it turned out my friends' dad did not live there but the man told me where he thought my friend's dad lived.
So I set off again, not really knowing where I was going this time but still trying to be obedient. As I drove down the muddy rez road my faith faltered as the road continued to deteriorate. And, me of little faith, decided to turn around so that I wouldn't get stuck. When I finished turning my car around a truck approached. The driver of the truck was a ministry partner from one of the projects that I lead last summer. I stopped her and asked if she knew where my friend's dad lived. She said that she did and would take me there. She also said she didn't think I would get stuck but would be there to help me if I did. God, your timing is impeccable. She took me to the man's house and waved good-bye.
On faith alone, I walked up to the door and knocked. The man answered, invited me into his home and proceeded to listen to me as I shared Jesus with Him. When I finished he gave me hug and asked for my address. I gave him my business card and he said he would tell his son I had been there. Wow, God shows me his faithfulness again and again! He is so stretching me as I continue on this adventure of fund-raising to become the Ministry Coordinator of American Indian Discipleship with AIM and am learning to look with anticipation to the different ways he will use me to bring glory to Him!
