Nothing short of a miracle!

Well, I want to share today about a true miracle in our lives. Brad and I have been working with his department for weeks now on end, trying to figure out a plan for coming home this summer. Short story is the funds just were not available. We didn't have them, nor did his department. Due to circumstances beyond the current administration's control, the money that was supposed to be available to pay for our tickets home was not there.

When we booked our tickets to come back to Lusaka at the end of last summer, we booked round trip tickets due to their price being significantly cheaper than a one-way ticket. We listed our return date to the US to be this past December, knowing we probably would not travel at that time, but it was cheaper to do that and drop the second half of the trip than to go one way or to book the return leg for this summer. So, that was the choice we made last summer. As a result, we have the second half of that trip just sitting there that can be used at a cost much smaller than a whole ticket. Each ticket that we choose to redeem, we pay a penalty and then book the separate South African leg of the trip. In the end, after both Brad and his department talked to the airlines, it was determined that it would cost us about half of a normal ticket to do it this way.

So, still being apprehensive about the cost, Brad got online to book the tickets last night. I cannot explain it, other than a pure gift from God, but the girls and I are flying home this summer for $120---altogether. The South African leg alone, was quoted to us at $400/person until Brad went to book it and it was $33/person (Do I need to say that this is unheard of?). The Delta leg, which was $300-$400 in penalty fees/person was $0. As it turns out, the flight we booked home last December was canceled by the airline and therefore we were not charged a penny to rebook the return trip.

While Brad was in the front of the house trying to make travel plans, the girls and I were in our bed singing songs and telling stories. Kaitlyn had just started us on the song 'Mighty to Save' and we were singing the line: 'Savior, he can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save' when Brad came in. He smiled, sat down and said that God indeed could move mountains and that he had just moved one for us. He then told the girls the story. Kaitlyn was so moved, she cried for the next 30 minutes. I was just incredulous and in shock.....I still am. And I don't know why. I am just continually amazed as God meets not only all of my needs, but many of my desires as well. Just 12 hours earlier, I was sobbing, unable to even pray because I was so devastated that I was not going to be able to come home for a visit, a rest. I couldn't imagine how I was to make it through the next year without being able to come home and refuel--recharge my batteries among so many I love and who love me. And despite my inability to articulate my needs, my wishes, my heartbreak, my Lord heard my cries and he's bringing me home.

I just wanted to share this miracle in our lives. God does move mountains and the least I can do is give him all the Glory. We'll see you this summer! We'll arrive stateside May 21st!!! Praise God!

In awe,
Zookeeper