Change of plans...

Ok...so I'm not so good with the blog thing. The problem is that I never slow down long enough to tell people what it is that I am so busy doing! Over a month & a half ago I told you I would keep you updated on my friend Laura & about me going with her to Ethiopia to pick up her new baby daughter & now I am way behind. :oP

I had everything lined up to go with Laura to Africa until 9 days before we were due to leave, when I had a little set back. I had really felt like I was supposed to go. I had bought tickets & booked hotels, and had done basically everything in my power to be able to go. Then this one thing changed the whole plan. I was devastated! I called Laura on a Thursday morning & gave her the news. My biggest fear was that she would freak out because it was too late for her to find anyone else to go with her. To my surprise, she handled it very well. We both knew that God's hand had been in all that we had planned, so He must have seen this coming too.

I was driving to the weekly Hillsong Sisterhood morning meeting as I was talking to Laura. Ps. Bobbie had been speaking on 'Be the Change'. This particular morning was about coming alongside our sisters as 'midwives'. How we can't walk through something for someone, but we can be the voice of encouragement to them as they walk through something.

(*note: Jeremy had told me from early this year that I could either go to Africa with Laura or go to the Hillsong Women's conf. in Ukraine in May but I could only choose one.)

So I am sitting in this meeting listening to Ps.Bobbie's message...upset that I am not getting to be there for Laura, when Ps. Bobbie starts talking about how badly our sisters in Ukraine need us to come alongside them right now. She went on about it for a while. Of course, my heart started breaking because I have such a burden for the people of Ukraine anyway. Then I started to think, "Maybe God wanted me to go to Ukraine all along". I was still trying to understand why things didn't work out for me to go to Africa with Laura when Ps.Bobbie made a statement(I don't even know what made her say it) but she said,"Africa needs us as midwives too right now, but sometimes all a sister needs is a little encouragement that she can make it...sometimes just believing in someone makes all the difference in the world." Then peace came over me. I knew that Laura would be fine...that God would give her the grace & strength she needed to go to Africa alone. Laura is surrounded by people who believe in her...I know because I am one of her biggest fans!

So right now as I write, Laura has her new baby girl in her arms. They are on a flight & are only hours away from arriving home after a long journey from Africa. They will be met at the airport by many happy friends & family members anxious to meet this sweet little miracle girl.

I am so glad I just sat back & trusted God. He had another plan for me all along. Apparently He wants me to stay focused on Ukraine. My sisters in Ukraine need encouragement & I am happy to report that the first week of May I will be on my way there. I am believing for a team of girls to go with me. Right now I have 6-8 girls interested. I can't wait to see what God will do there. If you know of any girls who might be interested, please let me know. By the grace of God I will be disciplined enough to write an update to this blog sooner than a month & a half! haha

Please email me at: holly.chapa@gmail.com if you are interested in joining me on the Ukraine trip in May.