Sokion almost dropped out of school in 7th grade. The reason? He didn’t have adequate transportation. The new school building for 7th graders was 4 ½ miles away from his village. He prayed earnestly for God to provide him with a bicycle, since his family didn’t have the $27 dollars it would cost to buy one. Then, a missionary gave him the money for a bicycle so he could go to school. He was so happy that his prayer had been answered! 

But, a few weeks after he got the bicycle, it was stolen. Brokenhearted, Sokion begged his parents to get him a new one so he could keep going to school. At that time, it was very common for kids his age to drop out of school, so they told him to just stay home and work on the farm. He went out to the field to plant rice, praying and asking God why this had happened to him. As he was ploughing the field, bills of Cambodian money came up with the dirt, about $50 worth! He thought he was dreaming, but this story is real. God’s tremendous grace not only kept Sokion in school all the way through college, but this experience taught him a valuable lesson about God’s love and provision. It’s one of those stories that serves for us as a reminder that God can be trusted even when circumstances seem hopeless. 

Circumstances across the world right now seem pretty hopeless. Since we all first heard the word “coronavirus,” countless people have suffered hardships and we’ve all had our entire way of life upended. Our family, like many across the U.S., is currently “sheltering in place” and our future seems incredibly uncertain at this moment. But while many things have been put on pause, our plans to move to Cambodia this summer have continued to move forward. The truth is, while we keep planning, we don’t really know exactly to expect in the coming months.

• Will the lockdown be over? 
• Will travel restrictions be lifted? 
• Will there be a bad outbreak of this virus in Cambodia? 
• Will it be “safe” to go? 

The situation we’re in now reminds me of the story of Peter walking on water. Jesus called Peter to come to him on the boat. All Peter had to do was keep his eyes on Jesus and he was walking on water. But oh, how easy it was for his eyes to stray towards the wind and the waves, that scary storm! Even though Peter had seen Jesus do amazing miracles, when things got scary, it was still easy to lose faith in that moment. Like Peter, I often fix my eyes on the storm around me instead of Jesus in the boat. Maybe you can relate with your own “storm.” 

We don’t know exactly what tomorrow brings, but we do know that God does not leave us alone to fend for ourselves in a scary world. When there seems to be no way, he can make a way. What seems impossible to us is possible for him. In fact, even right now this week, God is answering our prayers in miraculous ways! Our home just sold after only four days on the market. Our financial needs are being met and we’re close to reaching our goal of 80% of our funding by May 1st. We’ve been offered a place to stay in Cambodia when we arrive. God is still making a way when there seems to be no way. 

There’s a song I learned as a child that I keep singing to my kids these days:

God will make a way

When there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will make a way

While the exact details of tomorrow remain uncertain, I’m choosing to keep my eyes on Jesus and let him lead our way!