Answered Prayer

Our recent faith-journey has been carried forward on the shoulders of a growing number of answered prayers. My prayer list is chalk-full of specific answers to specific prayers: a house for us to rent, a reliable vehicle to purchase, Costa Rican phone numbers, a gym for Pam, local health insurance, guidance in the purchase of furniture, smooth cultural adaptation, wisdom as we lead lead and teach and so much more.

However, one of the most surprising answers to our prayers has been Kai and Tina, whom you see in the photo.  

Kai and Tina arrived in August from Germany a few weeks before Pam and me. They were married early in the month and left almost immediately for Costa Rica. After their honeymoon on the coast, they settled in the San Jose area where Tina is completing an educational internship as part of her Master’s Degree.

This vibrant young couple showed up at ECF’s service a few weeks ago. After the service was over, on their first visit, I happened to ask, “Are you worship leaders?” (Now, quite honestly, this is not a question I regularly ask first time guests. But I had a prompting…) They both smiled and asked why I was asking. I said, “Well, I’ve been praying for a worship leader since April and wondered if you might be the answer to my prayer.”

At that point, they smiled even more before responding, “Why, yes, we do lead worship!” So, the following week Kai and Tina lead worship in our Sunday service, and have continued to do so. They are both passionate Jesus-followers with a deep love for the Lord and his people. What an amazing answer to prayer…all the way from Germany!

One reason Pam and I decided to venture into deep waters at this stage of our life is because we wanted to see God move in miraculous ways. We did not want to coast on past faith victories. We did not want to rest on our laurels.

For us, this has meant putting ourselves in situations that if God does not show up, we are sunk. (Believe me…you do NOT want me to be your lead worship singer!) We have learned over and over that we must first take a step of faith. After taking a step of faith, God then shows up with his provision. We are seeing this again in Costa Rica. And we are thrilled to be part of this new faith-stretching adventure!